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Because, effectively, the exFAT filesystem is OSS since August 2019 and Microsoft released all the specifications to it [0]. Microsoft has essentially taken pub
by igneo676 6y ago
Because, effectively, the exFAT filesystem is OSS since August 2019 and Microsoft released all the specifications to it [0]. Microsoft has essentially taken public, legal steps to ensure that anyone else can use exFAT without legal encumbrances and without threat of lawsuit.
IANAL - so there's likely some caveats (you probably can't just use the exFAT name unless certain qualifications are met, just like you can't use Firefox's trademarks willy-nilly), but that should be good enough for just about anyone. Including paranoid OSS peeps like me :)
0: https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/opensource/2019/08/28/exfat-linux-kernel/ https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/opensource/2019/08/28/exfat...
- Delk 6y agoI'm also not a lawyer, but AFAIK publishing a specification has nothing to do with whether the tech can be legally used without a patent license. I don't know how the release to Open Invention Network affects things, though.
- dingaling 6y ago> Because, effectively, the exFAT filesystem is OSS since August 2019 No its inclusion in Linux was the result of a decision by Microsoft, not a granting of an open license. Any other implementation still has to apply for a license: "For customers wanting only a patent license, you can contact us to learn more about the exFAT licensing program and request a pricing proposal."