Re: [Patents] Nasty move from MicroSoft

[Simo Sorce <simo.sorce@xsec.it>]

I've read the 4 patents, they seem to be all the same patent just worded
in different ways.

>From the claim these patente seem not to cover "the FAT" filesystem, but
only the extensione (commonly called FAT32 or vfat) that permit you to
store a long file name along side with the common short name (8+3
chars).

Well I think such patents should never pass the obviousity test, prior
art may be considered the unix hardlink that also permit you a similar
concept (different name for the same file).

Simo.


On Thu, 2003-12-04 at 15:52, Roland Orre wrote:
> 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
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