[lug] Microsoft charging fee for each digicam made

[Ferdinand Schmid]

So now Microsoft starts charging for every digital camera made...
Maybe they
will also start charging for every hard drive or floppy disk made?

See more info below,
Ferdinand

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
---------

Below article was taken from the home page of:
http://www.dpreview.com

Microsoft's FAT charges

Microsoft will soon be charging manufacturers of flash memory card
devices and
those which use them $0.25 per unit or up to $250,000 to use the FAT
filesystem. For those who are unaware the FAT file system was developed
by
Microsoft back in 1976 and has become the standard file system for all
digital
still cameras. Microsoft owns patents to the FAT File System but for
many
years hasn't even hinted that it may one day decide to charge for it.
These
new licenses appear to come into effect immediately and specifically
make
mention of 'compact flash memory cards' and 'portable digital still
cameras'. What a great way for Microsoft to cash in on the most popular
consumer products (as if they don't make enough money already).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
---------

--
Ferdinand Schmid
Architectural Energy Corporation
Celebrating over 20 Years of Improving Building Energy Performance
http://www.archenergy.com