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Message-ID:	<3FD0AF17.9060308@2net.co.uk>
Date:	Fri, 05 Dec 2003 16:15:19 +0000
From:	Chris Simmonds <chris AT 2net DOT co DOT uk>
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To:	opendos AT delorie DOT com
Subject:	Re: A question about the future of DRDOS
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Reply-To:	opendos AT delorie DOT com

Point 1: you can get a US software patent on almost anything (I have one 
myself). Microsoft have one on copying data from one memory location to 
another.

Point 2: These patents all relate to the use of LFN in FAT file systems. 
Plain FAT 12 and FAT 16 file systems are not covered, so far as I can 
tell. This may explain the relicense of some manufacturers to release 
LFN compatibility code.

So, I expect all those floppy disks and Compact Flash will be 25 cents 
more expensive in the future?

Chris.

Martin C wrote:
>>>And what about M$ trying to patent their FAT fs?
>>
>>Is
>>
>>>that harmful or what? What do you think about
>>
>>that?
>>When did they try this?
> 
> 
> I read about it yesterday: 
> http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/tech/fat.asp
> 

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