Okay, that part of the synopsis could have been better. I'll try again - SCO is suing IBM for $1 billion and demanding that AIX sales cease, alleging that IBM improperly transferred SCO's intellectual property from AIX to Linux.
"Second, SCO is also threatening all Linux users in general not only for whatever code IBM may have put there, but what other UNIX licensees or other former ATT programmers may have contributed as well as have been found through examination of the mailist files as well as confirmed in the source code."
That is their allegation, but contrary to your assertion, it has not been independently "confirmed".
"Also, SCO has offered anyone the right to view samples of their evidence, and many have including Ms. Didio who recently appeared in an article on EE Times that like many we are currently seeing seemed to add validity to SCO's claims."
Ms. Didio signed a draconian non-disclosure agreement with SCO in order to view two blocks of code, up to 80 lines, that looked similar to her. But as Robert X. Cringely points out - SCO, Not IBM, May Have Put Unix Code Into Linux. Furthermore, SCO itself distributed Linux under the usual GPL licensing terms that allow many other distributors to incorporate the code in their products.
One other point I should have added - SCO is represented by David Boies, the lawyer who lost Al Gore's case in the 2000 presidential election, and is currenlty charged with ethical violations by the Florida Bar in the matter of a client whom he was having a "personal relationship" with.
By the way, if you're going to insinuate that the White House is using an operating system from Communist China, why not go all the way and paste Dubya's head on your Red Star Penguin? Send it to Tblshow, he'll love it. Perhaps you'd like to add a Hammer and Sickle to the Free Republic logo as well.
That is their allegation, but contrary to your assertion, it has not been independently "confirmed".
I believe I read a very recent report that indicated much of the "duplicate code examples" might not even be from IBM. I believe that I read that more than once in the huge batch of information that has come out since SCO's threat on Monday, but without having time to map out that information yet, sorry I looked but can't currently provide a link.
SCO, Not IBM, May Have Put Unix Code Into Linux.
That is possible, but would only add to the myriad of places that UNIX code had been put into Linux. It wouldn't justify all other possible cases, a least not IMO.
SCO itself distributed Linux under the usual GPL licensing terms
Yes, but not knowingly, since they did not put the code in there, IBM and others did. Despite other faults, the GPL doesn't claim it "steals" code from the owner in those instances.
SCO is represented by David Boies, the lawyer who lost Al Gore's case in the 2000 presidential election, and is currenlty charged with ethical violations by the Florida Bar in the matter of a client whom he was having a "personal relationship" with.
Yes, I am certainly no fan of Mr. Boies, but unfortunately he is considered an expert in such matters and will be involved. I don't think any improper actions in Florida will effect his ability to practice law in Utah. If it does, there are hundreds of other lawyers who would love to take this case.
why not go all the way and paste Dubya's head on your Red Star Penguin? Send it to Tblshow, he'll love it. Perhaps you'd like to add a Hammer and Sickle to the Free Republic logo as well.
No thanks, I am very greatful for Free Republic being online although I would prefer if it was hosted on an operating system founded in the US. Perhaps one day that will change.