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Microsoft Wants exFAT in Linux Kernel, Opens File System Specs

posted by takyon on Thursday August 29 2019, @03:16AM   Printer-friendly
from the ten-years-too-late dept.

RandomFactor writes:

Microsoft today announced that it:

is supporting the addition of Microsoft's exFAT technology to the Linux kernel.

Microsoft has published the exFAT file system specification on its Windows Dev Center site.

While the code remains under copyright, Microsoft also stated that the exFAT code incorporated into the Linux kernel will be available under GPLv2.

We also support the eventual inclusion of a Linux kernel with exFAT support in a future revision of the Open Invention Network's Linux System Definition, where, once accepted, the code will benefit from the defensive patent commitments of OIN's 3040+ members and licensees.

It is noteworthy that there is already a free and open source exFAT driver available for FreeBSD and multiple Linux distributions, but it is not an official part of the Linux kernel due to the patent encumbrance of exFAT.

Also at TechCrunch and VentureBeat.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by progo on Thursday August 29 2019, @05:41PM (1 child)

    by progo (6356) on Thursday August 29 2019, @05:41PM (#887396) Homepage

    I'm not sure you addressed my question. I said "I don't understand"; not "I don't see a problem."

    I'm asking: is someone suggesting a SOLUTION for bundling code that implements exFAT, and Linux, in the same package? Is there a solution for including non-public-domain patents in ideas in Linux, or is Microsoft just blowing hot air?

    Starting Score:    1  point
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  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 29 2019, @07:05PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 29 2019, @07:05PM (#887440)

    Microsoft can grant the Linux Kernel Organization (or whomever is given ownership rights on Linux) a super-liberal, non-exclusive, use, creation, and distribution patent license that also allows them to freely transfer and sublicense the use of the patent on the same terms. There has been mention of OIN, suggests they are looking to grant a license like that to OIN, which would allow them to sublicense to Linux, which allows them to sublicense to whomever, which allows them to sublicense to whomever, ad infinitum.

    So, you don't technically have to grant a license to everyone from the get go, as long as your licensee who is actually using or distributing can do so.