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    SubjectRe: [PATCH] Add CONFIG_VFAT_NO_CREATE_WITH_LONGNAMES option
    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.



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