This is not a Mac OS X topic but MicroSoft is now charging to use their Fat File System. Does this mean every time I reformat a zip disk to work in a PC I have to send MicroSoft 25 cents. I mean was Gates in bed one night looking at ceiling tiles and said to himself wow there are probably hundreds of millions of floppy disks on store shelves I could be collecting a fee on. I wonder if I can get the boys at accounting to work something out.

MicroSoft needs to be slapped silly.

Well, certain manufacturers are making gobs of money off of digital devices, and they get the FAT file system for free. They didn't develop it. They're using it. Microsoft holds the rights to it and until now they didn't charge for the use of it.

What I'd like to see is a rationale for distinguishing between which patent rights should be charged for and which shouldn't. Does the Microsoft name prejudice any of the factors? Are we getting into an "entitlement" or OpenSource mentality where all things should be free? If so, then should Apple charge other manufacturers for using the FireWire name?