arstechnica.com — Microsoft has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against TomTom alleging that the device maker's products, including some that are Linux-based, infringe on patents related to Microsoft's FAT32 filesystem. This marks the first time that Microsoft has enforced its FAT patents against the Linux platform, a move that some free software advocates have
Feb 26, 2009 View in Crawl 4
nedsliderFeb 27, 2009
Couple of points:MS have probably been "negotiating settlements" with vendors for such alleged infringements for years. Filing a law suit is probably part of the negotiating game with those vendors who don't fold early to such intimidation.I don't see the threat to Linux. Who needs FAT - it's a totally outdated FS and there are loads of (better) alternatives. If FAT went away tomorrow who would really miss it?Do MS really want to start a massive legal battle with Linux in the middle of a global financial downturn that's hurting MS's bottom line far more than that of Linux. No, didn't think so.
urmyhartbstoprFeb 27, 2009
Note to self -> buy a tomtom. Didn't realize there were Linux base GPS system! I love this article it goes to show you that Microsoft don't really give a damn about the open source community -- it's always a trap! It's like their old tactic of buying competitors out and then letting them die and leaving the consumer with crappy software (like Internet Explorer). Time to switch to Ext4 and I'm patiently waiting for Linux's next generation file system.
mattbdFeb 27, 2009
@andycr512I think it's mostly the fact that FAT is the only filesystem that will work out of the box across Windows, Mac and Linux - while it's possible to get Ext2 or Ext3 working on Windows, or NTFS on Linux or Mac, it does require extra software.While LogFS sounds very promising, it would be nice if it worked out of the box on all OS's. I'm not hugely knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the various licenses but I understand that since LogFS is licensed under the GPL v2 then Microsoft and Apple wouldn't be able to include support for it out of the box.Oh, well...
esc27Feb 27, 2009
Most of this just seems like par for the course. Many companies with software patents do this, this time one just happens to be Microsoft. If there is an "evil" angle to it, my guess is Microsoft might be trying to wedge itself into the mostly Linux, embedded systems market.
earthforce1Feb 27, 2009
No, because if MS wins this one what they will do is charge all the MP3, digital camera and flash card vendors just a small token amount - but will use it as a club to snuff out any FOSS implementation, and throw FUD into the open source community. MS real objectives here is not to make piles of cash from Tom-Tom. They just want a token amount to strengthen their patent claims.The MS patent only covers extended filename support, Fat file systems which are limited to 8.3 are immune. I know, because I am implementing a FAT file system at work, and for this very reason it will NOT support long file names.
koselaraFeb 28, 2009
I'd disagree with the statement that public interest in Linux has been stagnating... To the contrary, everywhere I look I'm seeing pieces written about how Ubuntu is bringing in new users by the truckload, and their user forum certainly seems to have an endless supply in the Beginners Area. The times I've tried Linux (starting in the late 90s) as a fairly average non-programming user, it was always because I'd heard how neat it was, not because of anti-MS sentiment. Until last year, it always failed because my hardware wasn't detected or there were huge issues I had no clue how to handle.Don't forget, fairly significant chunks of America are against regulation of business, letting anyone aside from a huge company sue anyone else, and could easily be led to see open-source as un-American socialism. Regardless of who else is involved, they're likely to side with Microsoft.
applebutterMar 2, 2009
Lets start the ball rolling. Call or write the DOJHow to Contact UsYou can reach us with your complaint by e-mail, regular mail, or phone.E-mail antitrust.complaints@usdoj.govMail Citizen Complaint Center Antitrust Division 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Room 3322 Washington, DC 20530Phone 1-888-647-3258 (toll free in the U.S. and Canada) or 202-307-2040
hymneforthedeadMar 4, 2009
microsoft's policy is, Can't beat them? Sue them.
hymneforthedeadMar 4, 2009
I'm sure they do have some brilliant software developers that know open source, but what Steve Ballmer says goes.Which is a problem because we... he's and idiot..proof?done!<a class="user" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc</a><a class="user" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-8IufkbuD0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-8IufkbuD0</a>
bicepMar 5, 2009
Sounds like a case of "If you can't beat em', Sue em... Or better yet - get someone else to sue them (Red Hat being sued today for JBoss by Software Tree)".This is Bullsh*t!