Geez, so it has been decided after all this time that Microsoft is allowed to have the patent on the Fat file system. According to this article this means they’ll probably go after Linux vendors for patent infringement. I wonder if they go after USB key manufacturers, after all many of them use fat in order to make the keys easily accessible by Windows. Fat isn’t a great file system, but it has been an easy way for people to ensure compatibility with Microsoft whether they be devices or other operating systems. Microsoft seem to be cutting of their nose to spite their face by patenting and threatening competitors by “protecting” infrastructure that allows some interoperability with Windows. Groklaw looks at the the patent issue for more information.