Microsoft's definitely too FAT: layoffs ahead

Microsoft recently won a lawsuit against TomTom for 8 patent infringements. 3 of them regarding FAT File System. Everyone knows that this File System is definitely out of date. TomTom has done nothing else on their GPS device regarding FAT than using Linux kernel own support called VFAT. Then why does Microsoft attack TomTom and not the Linux Foundation, or bigger companies that are using kernel code as well in their product? Just because TomTom is quite a small company, and it has certainly no licence at all of any Microsoft software.

Here is the deal:

• If TomTom makes a step forward Microsoft, accepting some of their terms, they will get the Free Software community on them because they change the terms of the GPL licence, introducting patents inside the kernel.
• And if they don't they will have to pay the bill to Microsoft for losing a dummy trial. They are just locked up.
• Except if they change their OS support and take WindowsCE instead of Linux.

Microsoft is just seeing Linux growing in embedded devices, and Windows CE is about to decline quickly. An interesting article about that. Good news is that the Linux Foundation and the Open Source community is considering to file a suit against Microsoft for their "non applicable" patents. Like has spoken Jim Zemlin, the executive director of the Linux Foundation. Developers should only quickly find a replacement for FAT (LinuxDevices). And that's probably what Microsoft are expecting them to do...