[plug] M$ to patent FAT and charge for it

[Alex Polglaze]

> 
> 
> No they don't. In order to obtain a Patent, one must have an
> *inventive* step in the _device_. 
> 
>   a) FAT is not a device.
>     (Just like an integer!)
> and
>   b) there's no inventive step.
>      (Technology was natural development of prior art)
>

You also can't disclose it before you patent it. You only have to tell or show 
one person outside the developemnt group and it is no longer able to patented.

Alex