SCO Claims IBM Destroyed Crucial Evidence

Forbes ^ | 20 July 2006 | Daniel Lyons

[ShadowAce]

Baghdad Bob has found a new gig...

[ShadowAce]

[KarlInOhio]

Huh? If IBM put any code from SCO into Linux and distributed it, it has been spread around and IBM has no way to destroy all the copies. If they didn't put it in Linux and distribute it, then SCO has suffered no damage and has no case. And all that assumes that IBM actually stole from SCO which is looking almost impossibly unlikely now.

[HawaiianGecko]

Sounds like the dog ate it defense. Or in this case prosecution.  Having been a professional programmer type for 35+ years, hackers don't ever throw away all copies of any source code. I still have several boxes of 80 column punch card programs and rolls of punched paper tape programs that I haven't used in 35 years but refuse to toss.

 

[Bigh4u2]

"I still have several boxes of 80 column punch card programs and rolls of punched paper tape programs that I haven't used in 35 years but refuse to toss."

Yeah. You never know when you might dust off that old punch card or paper tape reader and peruse some of those old programs.

Ahhh. Nostalgia!

:0)

[rdb3]

This isn't over yet?

[Boundless]

Groklaw discussion at: http://snipurl.com/tl66
It may get its own topical thread, given that the
ever-gullible Forbes has now fallen for it.

GL readers point out that:
1. The magistrate judge was fully aware of that SCO whine,
and ignored it in her ruling.
2. The characterization of what may have been routine
housecleaning is spin by SCO.

[FreePaul]

Hatch? Utah? Why does that sound familiar? Nah, couldn't be a connection.

[ShadowAce]

LOL!

< maniacal voice-over > NO!!! And it never will be!! < /maniacal voice-over >

[thinkthenpost]

This Hatch guy is talking just for the sake of talking. The case was not dismissed, of course the case was not dismissed, IBM was told to wait until discovery was over before filing for Summary Judgment. If the judge or judges rule in IBM's favor at that point this is basically over. If the judges deny IBM's motion for Summary Judgment then we're going to trail and SCO will really have to reveal it's hand.

[TChris]

"It's kind of hard for us to do that," says Brent Hatch, an attorney with Hatch, James & Dodge in Salt Lake City, "because we don't have it. It was destroyed before it could be given to us."

'scuse me? If you don't have any evidence of wrongdoing, what prompted the lawsuit in the first place?

[dljordan]

"I still have several boxes of 80 column punch card programs and rolls of punched paper tape programs that I haven't used in 35 years but refuse to toss."

Dude, have you thought about seeking professional help? I mean, I kept some old System 370 Assembler manuals but punch cards? :)

[VeniVidiVici]

"It's kind of hard for us to do that," says Brent Hatch, an attorney with Hatch, James & Dodge in Salt Lake City, "because we don't have it. It was destroyed before it could be given to us."

The fact that the judge has let this trial continue with BS like this thrown about, shows she's in on the fix. They are all just waiting for IBM to dig deep and offer a settlement.

[Liberal Classic]

If you don't have any evidence of wrongdoing, what prompted the lawsuit in the first place?

$$$

[AmericaUnited]

SCO - "IBM's dog ate the source code."

[rzeznikj at stout]

This little saga seems to just be even funnier by the day...8^)

[gura]

Remember when SCO sold UNIX for money? Happy days.....

[Dilbert56]

My first daughter's birth was announced by mailing punched cards. Even then, in 1983, it was very hard to find a keypunch.

[ShadowAce]

This little saga seems to just be even funnier by the day

Yeah--it's why I try to keep up with it. I enjoy watching SCO dig themselves deeper with every court filing.

[ShadowAce]

Remember when SCO sold UNIX for money? Happy days.....

Yeah--but that was a different company. The current SCO has nothing in common with the one you remember.