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PUBPAT Challenges Microsoft's FAT Patent

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the slim-filesystems-still-safe dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Public Patent Foundation filed a formal request with the United States Patent and Trademark Office today to revoke Microsoft Corporation's patent on the FAT File System, touted by Microsoft as being 'the ubiquitous format used for interchange of media between computers, and, since the advent of inexpensive, removable flash memory, also between digital devices.' In its filing, PUBPAT submitted previously unseen prior art showing the patent, which issued in November 1996 and is not otherwise due to expire until 2013, was obvious and, as such, should have never been granted."

10 of 396 comments (clear)

  1. Ownership by nonewshere · · Score: -1, Troll

    so just exactly what percentage of the patent office does microsoft own?

  2. The key word is yet by MacFury · · Score: 0, Troll
    bought off PUBAT yet?

    They key word being yet. This will turn into some type of out of court settlement rather quickly. M$ doesn't follow by the legal system's rules, it writes them.

  3. Re:Don't buy into it. by nonewshere · · Score: -1, Troll

    is V-FAT some vague referance to viagria?

  4. The Fat patent by dj245 · · Score: -1, Troll
    We all know Microsoft is going to win this one.

    If it comes down to it, chubby Gates will just crush them with his big fat wallet.

    ba boom ching!

    --
    Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
  5. Re:In other News... by bersl2 · · Score: 0, Troll

    Patent on hot grits issued to Natalie Portman?

  6. Re:Let's See More of That Idea! by bersl2 · · Score: -1, Troll

    They are too powerful.

    It's as simple as that.

    Microsoft has to go.

    Hopefully it's still not too late...

  7. Re:About time... by Snake_Plisken · · Score: -1, Troll

    Hi Y'all

    I've been working on a farm for a few years now and have been seriously
    considering doing the sheep for a while now. I would just like to ask a few
    questions about technique etc. to the experts before getting down to it.

    1. Vaginal vs. Anal sex on ewes: Which is better? How do you get the ewe to
    stand still for anal?

    2. What if I want to be on the receiving end for anal sex? How do you get
    the ram to drill you? Do you just bend down or what?

    3. Oral sex with sheep? Is it possible? (And I don't mean blowing off the
    ram)

    4. Do regular emissions of semen into the sheep impact on the quality of the
    wool or meat?

    5. I can get at the sheep after they have just been slaughtered. Is it worth
    poking them in this state? Is there any way the health inspector will
    notice?

    --

    Eat recycled food - it's good for the environment, and OK for you.
  8. Not as fat as your face. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Nt

  9. A fatal exception has occured in your face. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    NT

  10. Re:s/patent/standard/g by Gothmolly · · Score: 0, Troll

    And thus, I win.

    --
    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.