Re: [PATCH] Add CONFIG_VFAT_NO_CREATE_WITH_LONGNAMES option

Olivier Galibert
2009-05-04T17:06:56Z

On Mon, May 04, 2009 at 09:30:20AM -0700, Eric W. Biederman wrote:
> When all of the pieces are public how can having secret veiled reasons
> make sense?

Because knowingly violating a patent triples the damages, among other
things.

There's a persistent rumor that a valid microsoft US software patent
exists that covers the standard method of handling long file names on
FAT filesystems. It seems that such a patent is used by microsoft in
litigations, the latest being against tomtom. I think all of these
litigations have been settled, but I can easily be wrong.

I have no idea whether such a patent actually exists, and even knowing
the reference (I don't) I am not competent to judge what it covers or
whether it would actually hold up in court.

But knowingly violating a patent is consider way worse in US courts
than simple independant recreation. So I guess the knowingly part is
what the "you need a local lawyer" crowd tries to avoid.

OG.