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The Samba guys are 'scared' because ...
this is an instance of Microsoft making claims on IP which doesn't belong to them. And they are not alone. Even the patent office agrees that the 'invention' was obvious from prior art. If Microsoft or any other company is allowed to strongarm people with frivilous patents, it will bring the whole patent system crashing down.

So far, the limits of Microsoft's IP 'engagement' with free software have consisted mainly of their support for SCO via direct licensing and BayStar. They didn't do to well on the BayStar deal and they probably won't get much milage out of the licensing deals either. Somehow their approach to patents has been ... well ... very SCOy. And like SCO, I think they are going to get their nose bloodied in the courts. Its just like they did with their abusive monopoly bullying. They think because they are Microsoft they can patent the mouse and everybody will just line up for licenses. LOL!

PS - the reason people don't answer your questions is because when they try to answer, you don't listen. Like ... if you really understood the underlying technology as well as you understand your agenda, you wouldn't ask the question in the first place. Windows can access the fat file systems because it is Windows. Linux can access fat file systems because it is running kernel modules such as 'fat' and 'vfat'. Samba is accesses fat through Linux if necessary, not through anything in its own code. If MS wins on the FAT patent and prevails in a case against Linux (its not going to happen, but if it did), Linux distributors would simply no longer be able to distribute those little kernel modules. However, I would suspect that someone would simply license them from Microsoft and the few people who need them would buy them. But along the way hardware vendors are going to tire of paying for a decades old file system and simply move their payload to a newer free file system and you can bet it won't be an MS file system.
Posted by: George Mitchell   Posted on: 09/30/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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FAT patent  crocd | 09/30/04
Removing a patent is a long drawn out process.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
Who's trying to remove a patent?  Physco Dude | 09/30/04
Look at the article header  Michael Kelly | 09/30/04
All patents are granted...  Physco Dude | 09/30/04
I forgot to add...  Physco Dude | 09/30/04
Yes, you missed a lot..  d_jedi | 09/30/04
But didn't Microsoft just apply for a patent...  voska | 09/30/04
It's up to the Director  IT_User | 09/30/04
No, only Micoresoft can appeal.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
Well, actually rule  IT_User | 09/30/04
Re: But didn't Microsoft just apply for a patent... (fix the f*ing forums!)  d_jedi | 10/01/04
Are they removing the patent ..  crocd | 09/30/04
Correct, and that IS a VERY long process.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
incorrect  Physco Dude | 09/30/04
Not appealing, in the formal sense  IT_User | 09/30/04
Please do yourself a favor and read the law.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
This is a public policy question  John L. Ries | 09/30/04
However...  Michael Kelly | 09/30/04
True enough, however...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
Not true in this case...  Physco Dude | 09/30/04
Without a patent  IT_User | 09/30/04
Again, read the law on the matter.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
and OFC neither do yours NAG  Always Annoyed | 10/01/04
Even more ridiculous patents have been justifed by some  wresnick | 10/01/04
MS will have to let this one go, or face Eolas again  FilledOut | 09/30/04
Eolas hasn't "let it go".  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
And because they won't let it go...  Michael Kelly | 09/30/04
That may be, however...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
Microsoft is appealing, no Eolas  Physco Dude | 09/30/04
Mixing up the meaning of "appeal"  IT_User | 09/30/04
Bring it on MS, all your patents will be voided!  Xunil_Sierutuf | 09/30/04
Patent office must have gotten your letters  FilledOut | 09/30/04
Bring it on IBM, all your patents will be voided!  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
Actually, Ax...  Yen_z | 09/30/04
IBM has many hardware patents that will be unaffected (NT)  Update victim | 10/01/04
When, oh WHEN will ZDNet stop repeating falsehoods  Michael Kelly | 09/30/04
I believe they are talking about Samba running on Windows.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
Samba runs on Windows?  Michael Kelly | 09/30/04
I should have said, a Windows enviornment.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
No, that's not an issue.  mobrien_12@... | 09/30/04
Really? Lets examine that a bit.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
You really don't have a clue about this, do you?  B.O.F.H. | 09/30/04
You failed to answer either question. Why?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
3 things  Michael Kelly | 09/30/04
The Samba guys are 'scared' because ...  George Mitchell | 09/30/04
Ok No_Ax, some answers (simplified just for you!)  B.O.F.H. | 09/30/04
Scared...  Patrick Jones | 09/30/04
Mounting the Drive  John L. Ries | 09/30/04
Ok I'm going to try to explain this.  mobrien_12@... | 09/30/04
no-ax question back to you  V Sanders | 10/01/04
You are so clueless, bitty  AmusedAtItAll | 10/01/04
The panent would have no bearing in such a case  Michael Kelly | 09/30/04
You lack the knowledge here  voska | 09/30/04
Read my above reply. (nt)  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
Like I said, you're in over your head  voska | 10/01/04
You really don't understand whayt SaMBa does, do you?  B.O.F.H. | 09/30/04
Samba implments SMB on Unix based systems!  B.O.F.H. | 09/30/04
If the patent is held up...  BitTwiddler | 09/30/04
And effects 95% of users how?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
Maybe not initially  Michael Kelly | 09/30/04
You mean like IE?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
IE is going downhill..  d_jedi | 09/30/04
Stagnant, yes.  Anton Philidor | 09/30/04
OK, you got me..  d_jedi | 10/01/04
Free surfer link  Anton Philidor | 10/01/04
Um, not by any reports I've read.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
We read different reports (nt)  CobraA1 | 10/01/04
So you're saying IE's market share is increasing?  d_jedi | 10/01/04
Firefox is slowly making inroads  Michael Kelly | 09/30/04
Change "slowly" to "invisibly" (NT)  Anton Philidor | 09/30/04
Not yet  IT_User | 09/30/04
Thee already are  PA-ITGuy | 09/30/04
Not a problem at all ..  George Mitchell | 09/30/04
I said "without having to install any special software"  PA-ITGuy | 10/01/04
'Patent quality'?! Yo Microsoft, try PRODUCT quality  HypnoToad | 09/30/04
This is good  CobraA1 | 09/30/04
One of four previously issued FAT patents now in question.  Anton Philidor | 09/30/04
re previously granted to Microsoft for a Windows file format.  V Sanders | 09/30/04
Welcome back, Anton the Microsoft perpetual cheerleader!  systemcleaner | 10/01/04
Mixing up the meaning of "appeal"  IT_User | 09/30/04
Thank you, these folks seem to be without a clue on the process.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
Isn't it a little late to be patenting FAT?  John L. Ries | 09/30/04
Sigh,,, they have had the patents for years.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
How recently were they granted?  John L. Ries | 09/30/04
Now having read the decision...  John L. Ries | 09/30/04
FAT is used in SD and Flash media.  B.O.F.H. | 09/30/04
They are not "doing" the patent, it's been in place.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
This particular patent (5,579,517) has 'been in place' since 1995  George Mitchell | 09/30/04
Thanx for the info  voska | 10/01/04
learn to read!  B.O.F.H. | 09/30/04
ms fighting this just makes them look bad  V Sanders | 09/30/04
Microsoft is and was always a self-serving monopoly.  systemcleaner | 10/01/04
Most companies who believe they can either  FilledOut | 10/01/04
Patenting the uninnovative  michael-t | 09/30/04
The pertinant facts:  George Mitchell | 09/30/04
Another Republican election ploy?  systemcleaner | 10/01/04
No  CobraA1 | 10/01/04
FAT patent - what arrogance  tony@... | 10/01/04
Ban Patents  IT_Critic | 10/01/04
Samba uses a network protocol, not a file format  balsover | 10/01/04

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