Re: exfat driver as a gsoc project: mentors wanted

On Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 1:13 PM Stefan Esser <se@freebsd.org> wrote:

> Am 20.01.25 um 20:29 schrieb Robert Clausecker:
> > No, though 2027 is only two years away, so if we cannot join the OIN,
> > we only have to keep the driver out-of-tree for that long worst case.
>
> Having a driver ready (and internally tested without a public release)
> would be a good preparation for 2027.
>
> BTW: 2 of the relevant patents have been filed 2009-02-20:
>
> Hash based file name lookup:
>
>         https://www.freepatentsonline.com/8321439.html
>
> Contiguous file allocation:
>
>         https://www.freepatentsonline.com/8606830.html
>
> IIUC, these would not expire before 2029?
>
> > As for “hosted in Europe:” Europe does not have software patents,
> > so we can basically ignore the ExFAT patents if development is done
> > in Europe independently of any US entity.
>
> I'm not convinced that hosting in Europe would be safe, but I do remember
> that the patented IDEA crypto code had been imported, but was not built
> unless a non-standard build option was used.
>

We have contacts at Microsoft... maybe just ask?

Warner

Regards,
>
> STefan
>
>