Indemnity Protection for Linux?

spookymonster asks: "I'm a mainframe sysadmin for a Fortune 50 company. I'm also a Linux hobbyist. About 18 months ago, my request for a proof-of-concept z/Series testbed was granted, and the results have been encouraging. Despite this, senior management keeps saying that Linux isn't ready for prime time. Today, I was finally able to corner one of them and ask him what exactly his issue was with Linux. His answer: Indemnity. All our other software vendors provide protection against someone suing us for using their product. Who protects us if a third party sues us, claiming Linux infringes on their copyrights? Sadly, I was at a loss for words. I've done some digging on Google, but haven't really found anything on the subject. With the SCO/IBM lawsuit heavy in the headlines of late, I figured I'd turn to the Slashdot community for answers. How do I respond to questions about Linux and indemnification protection?"

Comments

The Wisdom of Hondo

[Anonymous Coward]

"Your OS is writing checks your company can't cash."

How Open Source Solves the Problem

[blahlemon]

Open Source Vender 1: You're using my code illegally

Open Source Vender 2: No I'm not, but if you think I am bring your code, I'll bring mine and we'll discuss it at the pub

(Many hard drinks later)

Open Source Vender 1: Fusking M$ and closed source is killing the world man.

Open Source Vender 2: Fusking eh, down with M$...Now what the hell were we arguing about?

This is a laugh

[aminorex]

Your chances of getting sued for using Linux are
considerably less than your chances of getting hit
by a meteor while skydiving naked. (Which you are
also not insured for.)

Get back to us when you're back from the laughing
academy.

Re:So sue me?

[spookymonster]

...good luck to the suers chasing down and confronting a zillion individual MS SQL users.

Hard? All they'd have to do is attach an invoice to some Slammer code and voila! :)