Microsoft technical to the exFAT file system and expressed its readiness to transfer rights to use all associated exFAT patents for free use in Linux. It is noted that the published documentation is sufficient to create a portable implementation of exFAT that is fully compatible with Microsoft products. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to add support for exFAT to the main body of the Linux kernel.
Participants of the Open Invention Network (OIN), which includes Microsoft, commit not to file legal claims for using their technologies in the components of "". But exFAT is not included in this, therefore, Microsoft's obligations regarding providing the ability to use its patents do not extend to this technology. To mitigate the threat of patent claims, Microsoft plans to secure the inclusion of the exFAT driver in the list of components included in the next edition of the definition of 'Linux system.' Thus, the patents associated with exFAT will fall under the agreement concluded among OIN participants.
Notably, exFAT patents were downward API support (simultaneously with this in by Microsoft, the preinstallation of Linux-based solutions. The exFAT implementation driver was developed by Samsung under a GPLv2 license six years ago, but it still remains excluded from the main body of the Linux kernel due to the risk of Microsoft filing a patent infringement lawsuit. The Microsoft website still requiring a license to use exFAT and information stating that this technology has been licensed by over 100 companies, including major OEM manufacturers.
The exFAT file system was created by Microsoft to eliminate the limitations of FAT32 when used on large-capacity flash drives. Support for the exFAT file system appeared in Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows XP with Service Pack 2. The maximum file size was increased from 4 GB to 16 exabytes compared to FAT32, the limitation on the maximum partition size of 32 GB was removed, a free block bitmap was introduced to reduce fragmentation and increase speed, the limitation on the number of files in a single directory was raised to 65,000, and the ability to store ACL was provided.
Addition: Greg Kroah-Hartman the inclusion of the exFAT driver developed by Samsung into the experimental 'staging' area of the Linux kernel ('drivers/staging/'), where components that require further development are placed. It is noted that integrating this driver into the kernel will simplify the process of making it suitable for inclusion in the main source tree of the kernel.
Source: opennet.ru
