only linux got a free pass from microsoft as they use it.
F** Microsoft and EXFat as long it's not freely implementable and distributable with free or open software.
makes no mention of distribution issues. can you elaborate?
Regarding the encumbrances in general, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExFAT covers this, notably:
> Companies can integrate exFAT into a specific group of consumer devices, including cameras, camcorders, and digital photo frames for a flat fee. Mobile phones, PCs, and networks have a different volume pricing model.
> exFAT is the official file system of SDXC cards. Because of this, any device not supporting exFAT, such as the Nintendo 3DS, may not legally advertise itself as SDXC compatible, despite supporting SDXC cards as mass storage devices by formatting the card with FAT32 or a proprietary file system tied to the device in question.
> On 28 August 2019, Microsoft published the exFAT specification and released the patent to the Open Invention Network members. The Linux kernel introduced native exFAT support with the 5.4 release in November 2019.
So yes, this has been annoying for years (2006-2019, at a minimum) and left a very bad taste in my mouth as someone who has a few dozen SD cards that regularly move around various embedded devices that are expensive, rarely receive updates, and work just fine (e.g. 3d printers, digital frames, regular printers, local storage on security cameras, adapters for retro hardware, etc.). The Wikipedia article notes that the Nintendo 3DS - 75.94 million units sold during its 2011-2019 lifespan [1] - lacked exFAT support, so it’s not like this only affected low-end/cheap/uncommon devices from small companies.
Windows “helpfully” disabled all ways to format large SD cards as FAT32 so I end up having to rely on a third party tool.
Of course, whenever possible, I use a sane and journaled filesystem but it’s rare that I have a choice. :)
[1] Numbers sourced from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_3DS