time to use some other file system, such as ext2 or ext3... http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/tech/fat.asp FAT File System Technology and Patent License December 3, 2003 RELATED RESOURCES * Learn More About the FAT File System Most operating systems store computer files by dividing the file into=20 smaller pieces and storing those pieces in separate clusters of a hard=20 disk, floppy disk, or flash memory card. The FAT file system allows an=20 operating system to keep track of the location and sequence of each=20 piece of a file, and also allows the operating system to identify which=20 clusters are unassigned and available for new files. When a computer=20 user wants to read a file, the FAT file system also reassembles each=20 piece of the file into one unit for viewing. The first FAT file system was developed by Microsoft in 1976. That=20 system was based on the BASIC programming language and allowed programs=20 and data to be stored on a floppy disk. Since that time, the FAT file=20 system has been improved upon multiple times to take advantage of=20 advances in computer technology, and to further refine and enrich the=20 FAT file system itself. Today, the FAT File system has become the ubiquitous format used for=20 interchange of media between computers, and, since the advent of=20 inexpensive, removable flash memory, also between digital devices. The=20 FAT file system is now supported by a wide variety of operating systems=20 running on all sizes of computers, from servers to personal digital=20 assistants. In addition, many digital devices such as still and video=20 cameras, audio recorders, video game systems, scanners, and printers=20 make use of FAT file system technology. Microsoft is offering to license its FAT file system specification and=20 associated intellectual property. With this license, other companies=20 have the opportunity to standardize the FAT file system implementation=20 in their products, and to improve file system compatibility across a=20 range of computing and consumer electronics devices. If you are interested in obtaining a license, please contact our=20 Intellectual Property and Licensing Group at fatspec@microsoft.com for=20 more information. Pricing and Licensing Microsoft offers a commercially reasonable, nonexclusive license so that=20 other companies can use the FAT file system in their own products.=20 Currently, Microsoft offers two specific types of licenses: * A license for removable solid state media manufacturers to=20 preformat the media, such as compact flash memory cards, to the=20 Microsoft FAT file system format, and to preload data onto such=20 preformatted media using the Microsoft FAT file system format. Pricing=20 for this license is US$0.25 per unit with a cap on total royalties of=20 $250,000 per manufacturer. * A license for manufacturers of certain consumer electronics=20 devices. Pricing for this license is US$0.25 per unit for each of the=20 following types of devices that use removable solid state media to store=20 data: portable digital still cameras; portable digital video cameras;=20 portable digital still/video cameras; portable digital audio players;=20 portable digital video players; portable digital audio/video players;=20 multifunction printers; electronic photo frames; electronic musical=20 instruments; and standard televisions. Pricing for this license is=20 US$0.25 per unit with a cap on total royalties of $250,000 per licensee.=20 Pricing for other device types can be negotiated with Microsoft. Microsoft's FAT file system license offers limited rights to issued and=20 pending Microsoft patents on FAT file system technology, as well as=20 rights to implement the Microsoft FAT file system specification. In=20 order to ensure interoperability between the licensed media and devices=20 and Microsoft=AE Windows=AE-based personal computers and to improve consu= mer=20 experience, the license requires that licensees' FAT file system=20 implementations in the licensed media and devices be fully compliant=20 with certain required portions of the Microsoft FAT file system=20 specification. To help licensees implement the FAT file system,=20 Microsoft will also provide certain reference source code and test=20 specifications as part of the licensing package in both licenses. In some cases, companies may wish to negotiate broader or narrower=20 rights than the standard Microsoft license for FAT file systems. In this=20 case, pricing may vary. Microsoft remains flexible to adjust terms to=20 reflect crosslicensing, unit volume, version limitation, geographic=20 scope, and other considerations. FAT File System=96Related Patents The FAT file system licensing program includes rights to a number of=20 U.S. Patents, including: * U.S. Patent #5,579,517 * U.S. Patent #5,745,902 * U.S. Patent #5,758,352 * U.S. Patent #6,286,013 In addition, the FAT file system licensing package includes rights to=20 FAT file system innovations for which Microsoft has filed a claim for a=20 patent that the U.S. Patent Office has not yet granted. This licensing=20 program also provides licensees rights to Microsoft FAT file system=20 issued and pending patents outside the United States, and to the=20 Microsoft FAT file system specification and certain test specifications. This document describes the FAT file system specification and=20 intellectual property licensing program as of December, 2003. Microsoft=20 reserves the right to make modifications to the terms and conditions of=20 this licensing program at any time. The licenses presented here do not=20 provide rights beyond those explicitly stated above, including rights to=20 other Microsoft patents, technical know-how or other forms of=20 intellectual property. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics