SDXC

Posted Aug 27, 2009 9:46 UTC (Thu) by meuh (guest, #22042)
Parent article: Tuxera signs up with Microsoft

Why on earth did the SD Card Association chosen exFAT as file system for SDXC cards.

Hardware vendors will have to pay fees for a working SDXC cards support in their phone, camera, music player, all-in-one printers, etc. And users will have to upgrade to Windows Vista in order to read such media (you don't own a PC ? bad luck, you can't access to your photos).

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SDXC

Posted Aug 27, 2009 10:48 UTC (Thu) by bangert (subscriber, #28342) [Link] (3 responses)

Perhaps, in part due to software patents, it is more dificult to develop a new, open and comparable
filesystem standard than to continue to pay 3 cents per device to MS.

If some patent holder/troll were to assert rights on exFAT, it would attack MS and not the members of
the SD Card Association. Thats rather convenient.

SDXC

Posted Aug 27, 2009 15:45 UTC (Thu) by Trelane (subscriber, #56877) [Link] (2 responses)

"If some patent holder/troll were to assert rights on exFAT, it would attack MS and not the members of
the SD Card Association. Thats rather convenient."

I'm waiting for the reasoning. IIRC, if they ship or even own an infringing device/code, they are open for suit.

SDXC

Posted Aug 27, 2009 17:43 UTC (Thu) by tdwebste (guest, #18154) [Link] (1 responses)

The patent troll won't attack MS.
U.S. Patent Application 20090164440, containing the Microsoft exFAT
specification is owned by Microsoft.

Also Microsoft is licensing exFAT
http://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing/productDetail.aspx?
productTitle=exFAT%20File%20System%20Licensing%20Program

If I use the exFAT driver supplied by Tuxera/Microsoft either personally or
with a company I work, will a license fee be required Microsoft now or in
the future? Will Microsoft withdraw licenses in the future, restricting
access to only Microsoft friendly businesses/individuals?

SDXC

Posted Aug 27, 2009 18:10 UTC (Thu) by tdwebste (guest, #18154) [Link]

Perhaps a SD manufacture decides use ext2,3,4 on some devices.

Will Microsoft threating that manufacture, using the exFAT license with
cancellation or increased fees or increase licensing paper work, until they
stop producing SD with ext2,3,4?