I can't believe MS actually got a patent based on long file names. They
were implemented in *nix and Apple OS's long before MS ever implemented
them.

Stuff like this is why *software* patents are a bad and (very often)
abused idea.

Matt Pobursky
Maximum Performance Systems

On Fri, 5 Dec 2003 15:16:14 -0500, Bob Ammerman wrote:
> I don't think this will apply to blank floppies because the original
> FAT format cannot possibly be patented anymore.
>
> A blank preformatted floppy will not have any long-file-name stuff on
> it, and can in fact be identical to one produced back in the days of
> DOS.
>
> This will also apply to blank FAT12 and probably FAT16 media of other
> types.
>
> It is only when you start using some of the newer stuff, like long
> file names, that you are likely to run into trouble.
>
> At least this is what I got out of running the down M$ patents
> mentioned on their website.

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