I wonder if most people here just like to gossip or make noise about things they don't understand.
If anyone bother to read even Slashdot, they will know that the patent applies to several aspects of VFAT not FAT itself. One is the changing of file names from eg "MICROSOFT" to micros~1 and several other aspects. In fact, someone mentioned that digital cameras may not apply as they do not use this feature. This patent was filed in 1995 and granted in 1996. I remember FAT32 and VFAT came out together with Win95 so...
Secondly, they only charge those derived from them and not those who had done a clean-room reversed engineered version. So if
you invent and patent something, you do not want to collect royalty fees? Ask IBM then, they have one of the biggest if not the biggest patent portpolio in the IT industry and makes no quibble in collecting it.
Thirdly, at US$0.25/S$0.45 per piece capped at US$250,000 per manufacturer, this is a minor sum. Have
you thought out what you can buy with 45 cents?!? Soft drink at hawker center? No. Tea-o? Mostly 50 or 60 cents.
Per CF, the currency fluctuation would wipe out the difference in say a 256MB card. The amount is also less than the 1% GST increase on 1 Jan if you buy a CF costing more than S$45, which is 128MB and above... Anyone notice that?!?
They are also not really making money. I mean at the cap of US$250k, how many manufacturers are there? 10? 100? At 100, the max amount possible is US$25m, one time. Microsoft earns that amount in less than 1 month
. Look at their latest financial agreement...
No wonder people say that Singapore is filled with people who whines a lot.