Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2025 11:06:39 -0800 From: Mark Millard <marklmi@yahoo.com> To: fuz@freebsd.org, freebsd-fs@freebsd.org Subject: RE: exfat driver as a gsoc project: mentors wanted Message-ID: <86B4B4D0-2B25-4632-B9BE-AE65633AE165@yahoo.com> References: <86B4B4D0-2B25-4632-B9BE-AE65633AE165.ref@yahoo.com>
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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=3DUS2009164440 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=E2=80=99s = Linux System Definition, where, once accepted, the code will benefit = from the defensive patent commitments of OIN=E2=80=99s 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. >=20 > 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. =3D=3D=3D Mark Millard marklmi at yahoo.com
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