Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Servers

    Microsofts FAT Patent Rejected for Now

    By
    Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
    -
    September 30, 2004
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      In a heavy blow to Microsofts intellectual property rights, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has initially rejected Microsofts patent claims on the universally popular FAT (file allocation table) file system.

      The request to re-examine Microsoft Corp.s FAT patent was first made in April by PUBPAT (the Public Patent Foundation), a nonprofit organization that describes its mission as “protecting the public from the harms caused by wrongly issued patents and unsound patent policy.”

      /zimages/3/28571.gifRead more here about PUBPATs call for re-examination.

      The FAT system, which Microsoft claims it developed in 1976, has become an ubiquitous format used for data storage and data interchange between computers and digital devices such as cameras and USB memory sticks.

      FAT is also used by some open-source software, such as Samba, to let Linux and Unix computers exchange data with Windows computers.

      Microsoft officials said they look forward to responding to the patent offices ruling, called an “office action,” by providing the companys pwn side of the story.

      “This latest action by the PTO [Patent and Trademark Office] is just one step in a long process,” a Microsoft representative said. “The PTO has not revoked the patent; it has simply put the claims in question and requested Microsoft to provide arguments supporting our initial claims or amending our claims. We are looking forward to having our first opportunity to weigh in with Microsofts side of the story.”

      /zimages/3/28571.gifClick here to read more about how the FAT patent review could harm Microsoft.

      PUBPAT, however, sees the PTOs decision as a clear-cut victory.

      “We are very pleased with the patent offices rejection of Microsofts FAT patent,” said Dan Ravicher, executive director at PUBPAT.

      “Requesting that the patent office revoke invalid patents is a core part of our overall mission of reforming the patent system, because it both gives specific examples of the patent systems failings and works to prevent the harm being caused by the patent system in the interim,” Ravicher said.

      “The patent office has simply confirmed what we already knew for some time now: Microsofts FAT patent is bogus,” he said. “I hope those companies that chose to take a license from Microsoft for the patent negotiated refund clauses so that they can get their money back.”

      /zimages/3/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms Windows Center at http://windows.eweek.com for Microsoft and Windows news, views and analysis.

      /zimages/3/77042.gif

      Be sure to add our eWEEK.com Windows news feed to your RSS newsreader or My Yahoo page

      Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
      I'm editor-at-large for Ziff Davis Enterprise. That's a fancy title that means I write about whatever topic strikes my fancy or needs written about across the Ziff Davis Enterprise family of publications. You'll find most of my stories in Linux-Watch, DesktopLinux and eWEEK. Prior to becoming a technology journalist, I worked at NASA and the Department of Defense on numerous major technological projects.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Careers

      SThree’s Sunny Ackerman on Tech Hiring Trends

      James Maguire - June 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Sunny Ackerman, President/Americas for tech recruiter SThree, about the tight labor market in the tech sector, and much needed efforts to...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×