Nasty move from MicroSoft

[Roland Orre <orre@nada.kth.se>]

This was the most nasty unethical thing I've heard about for long,
which the US sw patent system allows.

Microsoft patenting and licensing the FAT system which they
first developed 1976.

http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/tech/fat.asp

The FAT system is, apart from being used in different DOS and MS windows
systems, used in floppies, memory cards for cameras, MP3 players etc.

OK, the FAT system is, according to the web site not approved by USPTO.

This procedure, to be able to patent something which has been in common
use for many years is possible with the US "first to document" or what
it's called. In Sweden and rest of Europe (I think) it is not possible
to patent something which is already well known. Here we have first to
file, so you can avoid this nasty effect.

This could of course be seen as a "smart" move in the patent debate
(but I hardly suspect this to be the intention...)
At least this should be a good argument for US to change to "first to
file" instead of first "first to document".

/Roland