RE: exfat driver as a gsoc project: mentors wanted

Robert Clausecker <fuz_at_freebsd.org> wrote on
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2025 17:17:40 UTC :

> With ExFAT being a common file system on external storage devices
> and the patent situation being less bad than a few years ago,

Did I miss a status change? I do know that:

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20090164440?oq=US2009164440

reports: 2027-03-09 Adjusted expiration

But, other than that:

https://opensource.microsoft.com/blog/2019/08/28/exfat-linux-kernel/

reported:

QUOTE
We also support the eventual inclusion of a Linux kernel with exFAT support in a future revision of the Open Invention Network’s Linux System Definition, where, once accepted, the code will benefit from the defensive patent commitments of OIN’s 3040+ members and licensees.
END QUOTE

Quoting https://openinventionnetwork.com/# :

QUOTE
OIN is the largest patent non-aggression community in history. Together, we support freedom of action in Linux as a key element of Open Source & help members reduce patent risks.
END QUOTE

So, apparently: Very specific to Linux as a context.

To my knowledge FreeBSD is not and can not be a member of the
Open Invention Network in order to get FreeBSD itself covered.

I'm less sure relative to the means of running Linux code in
a booted FreeBSD. May be a OIN membership could cover that
for exFAT and more? (No clue.)

> it
> seems interesting to have a native ExFAT driver.
> 
> The driver could be maintained out-of-tree and hosted in Europe
> (where the software patents are not enforceable) until we can
> merge it.

May be the above is an implicit reference to the "2027-03-09
Adjusted expiration"?

> This seems like it would be a good fit for GSoC.
> Is there anybody here who would be interested in (co)-mentoring this
> project? I would also be interested in mentoring, but I have too
> little experience with the VFS subsystem to do it alone.


===
Mark Millard
marklmi at yahoo.com