Mount NTFS partitions

[Don Bedsole]

Hi to all,
I read that Fedora does not ship with the software to allow mounting of NTFS 
partions (although it is easy to install).  This is because of patent 
concerns.  
1. Does anyone know what these patent concerns are?  
2. Is this only a problem for Fedora distributing the software, or would an 
end user also run the risk of violating patents?
3.  Would mounting an NTFS partition allow a Linux user to have access to dlls 
which would make it easier to run Windows programs under WINE?

Thanks.