Long file name license

[seandema]

Is a license from Microsoft required in order to use long filenames? Or is permission to use and sell a MQX based product using long file names included with MQX? I ask because I have run across other vendors that required a separate license for long file names even if their system was capable of working with them.

Thanks,

Sean

[soledad]

Hi Sean,

MQX doesn’t have any restriction for long filenames. This depends directly of the system (Microsoft in your case).

Regards

Sol

[seandema]

Ok so MQX allows me to use long file names. Do you know if Microsoft still requires me to get a license? I believe they did a while ago but I have heard that they no longer require that. I just can't find any documentation stating that a license is no longer required.

Thanks,

Sean

[Luis_Garabo]

Hi Sean,

We are not aware or any needed license for long names in MQX. I actually haven't heard ever that you need a license. Do you know if there is a specific patent for this?

Regards,

Garabo

[seandema]

Well it's been a bit confusing. I know that a vendor my company has used in the past required a license for long file names from MS. There was a case MS had with TomTom that had something to do with ling file names.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/microsoft-litigate-on-fat-and-youll-be-the-next-unisys/9594

And MS does have several patents related to FAT that seem to have something to do with file name length.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/microsoft-litigate-on-fat-and-youll-be-the-next-unisys/9594

We have had trouble finding anything clearly stating that we do or do not have to license the use of long file names. If Freescale is confident that we don't have to obtain any extra license to use long filenames when using MQX that would be great. We are mainly looking for confirmation one way or the other. Obviously we don't want to get in any legal trouble.

Thanks,

Sean