Its an inferior filesystem (a data layout convention, nothing more) that Android supports to be compatible with windows systems.
Imagine BMW patenting the shape of the hole you use to fuel your car, and then sending invoices to every fuel station.
Imagine BMW patenting the shape of the hole you use to fuel your car, and then sending invoices to every fuel station.
>Imagine BMW patenting the shape of the hole you use to fuel your car, and then sending invoices to every fuel station.
That is an unfair comparison. I would have agreed to that statement if the patent was vague but it is very specific to implementation.
>Android supports to be compatible with windows systems.
Neither do I see any other reason to stick with FAT16/32 unless it is somehow required on booting.
I made a sabbatical in hating Microsoft for a few years but now I see why it is important for me to resume doing so.
I fully agree. I despise patents on anything that stifles interoperability. However this wasn't anything new. Din't we grow up with patents on GIF? Isn't Apple doing the same with patents on NFC sessions? [1] Or Google with their proprietary file system[2]? Don't even get me started on the bucket load of patents IBM has collected over the decade. Then why single out Microsoft? Patent wars between corporations is nothing new. (However, I would develop a deep hatred if they went after non-profit org like Linux with this.)
The point I am trying to make is, it was/is common for corporations to file patents on most trivial things. I find the Patent Office at fault here.
[1]http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2013/05/apple-fi...
[2]http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2006/06/google-file-system-...
One thing is to patent, the other thing is to enforce a bogus patent/"license" it and collect money. The latter has no excuses for a product company.
It's not about filing patents. Patents are routinely filed for defensive purpose and it's hard to blame the companies that do it, especially in light of the abuse by e.g. Microsoft. It's what companies do with the patents. Like getting Motorola phones banned in Germany due to FAT16 patent infringement [1].
[1] http://www.zdnet.com/motorola-android-devices-banned-in-germ...
It is required under UEFI. Fat16 and 32 are the only recognized file system formats used by UEFI firmware, so you have to have a UEFI system partition using that filesystem. If Microsoft can patent troll people over it, technically that means there is no way to prepare a system for UEFI booting unless running Microsoft software to create a fat partition, and write to it.
Which would be stupendous bullshit.
Apple & MS have a cross-licensing agreement dating back to 1997 that has been renewed at once (and probably more than once). FAT patents are presumably included under this.