exFAT filesystem and specifications to be open-sourced by Microsoft

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WorldBlender
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:34 am

exFAT filesystem and specifications to be open-sourced by Microsoft

Post by WorldBlender »

https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/openso ... ux-kernel/
The blog post describing the changes. In summary, Microsoft will release patents related to exFAT to the Open Invention Network (OIN), and eventually add exFAT support to the Linux kernel itself. The latter means that future versions of Linux distros will include exFAT support out-of-the-box, no need to install 3rd-party support.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/window ... cification
The actual specification, now publicly accessible. Note the most recent changes to the it:
26-Aug-2019

Seventh release of the Basic Specification, which includes the following changes:

Updated legal terms pertaining to the specification, including:

Removal of Microsoft Confidential notice

Removal of Microsoft Corporation Technical Documentation License Agreement section

Updated copyright notice to 2019
theuserbl
Posts: 140
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:49 pm

Re: exFAT filesystem and specifications to be open-sourced by Microsoft

Post by theuserbl »

As I know, the OIW exists, to have Linux patent free.
So, GNU/Linux, forks of it and all based on it, can be using for exaple exFAT without paying patent fees.
But ReactOS is not Linux, nor is it based on it. So I am not sure, if that helps ReactOS.

Greetings
theuserbl
florian
Posts: 510
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2005 2:19 am
Location: Germany

Re: exFAT filesystem and specifications to be open-sourced by Microsoft

Post by florian »

No, it does only help Linux.

"No solution is Microsoft's release for other open source operating systems, such as the BSD family or ReactOS. The Linux patent pool of the Open Invention Network is just there to protect Linux and its developers from patent claimants' claims. This is not true for other operating systems."

This is a google translated text passage of an article of Heise Online, one of the most visited German-language IT news sites.

("Keine Lösung ist Microsofts Freigabe für andere Open-Source-Betriebssysteme, etwa aus der BSD-Familie oder ReactOS. Der Linux-Patentpool des Open Invention Networks ist nur dazu da, Linux und seine Entwickler vor Klagen von Patentinhabern zu schützen. Für andere Betriebssysteme gilt das nicht.")

Additionally you could read Wikipedia's article Open Invention Network (OIN).
PurpleGurl
Posts: 1790
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2009 5:11 am
Location: USA

Re: exFAT filesystem and specifications to be open-sourced by Microsoft

Post by PurpleGurl »

Yeah, sadly, it won't help us. The older tech we are using is protected by attrition (ie., it's been over 14 years).
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