[justlurking]

If SCO argues the GPL is invalid, it's not such a stretch to argue the same for the BSD license. Likewise, it seems to me that SCO's position is they own all UNIX implementations, not just the UNIX version 6, version 7, and SVR4, up to and including Linux and open source BSD. I believe that SCO is gambling on the ignorance of the judiciary on computer technology, and it's not an unsafe bet.

No, AT&T already tried that, against BSD. They lost, big time. Interestingly enough, a major reason was because AT&T was found to have copied significant amount of BSD code. I don't know all the details, but you can find more info at:

http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/who/dmr/bsdi/930303.ruling.txt

SCO's claim about the invalidity of the GPL is hogwash. A first-year law student could demolish it. Copyright law grants the right to make a single copy in the absence of permission by the copyright holder. But, the copyright holder can grant whatever permission they want.

For instance, Microsoft grants OEM's the right to make many copies of Windows for installation on new computers. If the GPL violates copyright law for this reason, then many other commonly-accepted practices are also illegal.

[Liberal Classic]

No, AT&T already tried that, against BSD. They lost, big time. Interestingly enough, a major reason was because AT&T was found to have copied significant amount of BSD code. I don't know all the details, but you can find more info at:

Furthermore, GNU Hurd was tied up in lawsuits for a time, shortly before the emergence of Linux. Stallman himself has been rumored to have whined and complained that while he was tied up in court, people were installing Linux.

The BSD and Hurd suits are one of the reasons why I believe SCO is five to ten years too late to raise the question of "unauthorized UNIX implementations."