Red Hat Attacks, SCO Counter Attacks

Linux Today ^ | 5 August 2003 | Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

[Dimensio]

I don't have a problem with anti-theft laws. SCO has yet to demontrate that they are a victim of theft.

[TLI]

Well I didn't say it actually worked! I just did it.....

[HiTech RedNeck]

A square-jawed monkey is evil?

[HiTech RedNeck]

SCO has yet to demontrate that they are a victim of theft.

"Oh we'll be glad to, so long as you let us shackle you so you can never work on any competing product again!"

[Bush2000]

I can't wait to SCO's cabal of lawyers go down in flames.

Frankly, I don't know why you guys are getting your panties in a bunch. Either SCO's allegations are legitimate -- or they're not. If they are legit, IBM infringed, needs to be slapped hard, and the offending IP removed from Linux. Conservative Americans don't applaud outright theft. That's what Democrats do. If the allegations are illegit, then you'll get your wish. But until that time arrives, it's in the hands of the courts -- and you guys have zero impact on the outcome.

[Dimensio]

Hence my counter-offer to SCO for a desktop Linux license. Rather than pay $199 for a desktop license over something that they've yet to establish ownership, I'm offering them "the finger".

In the event that they actually show that the SMP code in the kernel was stolen from them (which I doubt will happen), I'll remove said code from my kernel sources (since I don't use SMP anyway) and offer them "the finger" again, as I have two hands.

[HiTech RedNeck]

If SCO has a valid case, it is orders of magnitude smaller than what SCO is making it out to be. They're suing for a mountain when they appear, at most, to be due a molehill. That alone is a recipe for humiliation. It's like the British verdict where the author who was sued for allegedly libeling a former Nazi by describing his crimes, lost the case and was assessed a penalty of $0.005 .

[dennisw]

But until that time arrives, it's in the hands of the courts -- and you guys have zero impact on the outcome.

BFD Same applies for all you Billbots out in Redmond. SCO does things the M$ way. Litigate litigate litigate litigate. Only M$ actually has some products worth buying while SCO has nothing worth buying. Their business is suing. Their only software for sale is some kind of POS Linux license they want to force people to buy.

[Nick Danger]

I don't know why you guys are getting your panties in a bunch. Either SCO's allegations are legitimate -- or they're not. If they are legit, IBM infringed, needs to be slapped hard, and the offending IP removed from Linux.

I don't have a problem with any of that. These sorts of IP disputes go on every day. Most big companies have some number of them going on all the time. Usually the parties involved behave in a professional, responsible manner. When they can't resolve it and they have to go to court, they go to court.

Tactics such as trying the case in the press, screwing with other people's innocent customers, and blustering about ultimately owning all operating systems everywhere are neither professional nor responsible. They hurt a lot of innocent bystanders, they hurt the entire industry, and ultimately it's all to no effect. None of the public hoo-hah will move the business dispute one way or the other in the courtroom.

About the only thing I can think of that would be more childish than that is sending employees and business partners into Internet forums to spread the same hoo-hah there.

[Bush2000]

About the only thing I can think of that would be more childish than that is sending employees and business partners into Internet forums to spread the same hoo-hah there.

Or slandering companies and individuals, Nick...