Slashdot Mirror
Novell Claims Ownership of UNIX System V
Bruce Perens writes:
"We knew that SCO's attack on Linux was a lie. But we never dreamed of the big lie behind it.
"This morning, Novell announced some of the terms of the company's 1995 agreement to sell its Unix business to SCO. The shocking news is that Novell did not sell the Unix intellectual property to SCO. Instead, they sold SCO a license to develop, sell, and sub-license Unix. The title to Unix copyrights and patents remains with Novell. To back up this assertion, Novell refers to public records at the Library of Congress Copyright Office and the U.S. Patent Office.
"In their announcement, Novell refers to recent letters from SCO asking Novell to assign the Unix copyrights to SCO. So, apparently SCO's management team knew that they did not own Unix while pursuing their sham campaign against Linux.
"Along with this revelation, Novell is reiterating its support of the Linux and Open Source developer community, and its status as a partner in that community. Novell rejects SCO's accusations of plagiarism. Novell management says they do not intend to stand in the way of the development of the Linux kernel, its companion GNU system, and other Free Software.
"It would be an understatement to say that this leaves SCO in a bad position. The company has loudly and repeatedly asserted that they were the owner of the Unix intellectual property, all of the way back to AT&T's original development of the system 30 years ago. They've lied to their stockholders, their customers and partners, the 1500 companies that they threatened, the press, and the public. Their untruthful campaign caused the loss of sales and jobs, and damaged Linux companies and developers in a myriad of ways. And now, SCO will be the lawsuit target. SCO's quarterly earnings conference call is this morning, at 9 AM MST (11 AM EST, 8 AM PST). Call 800-406-5356, toll-free, to participate. You might even get to ask a question. It should be fun to watch them try to weasel out of this one.
"Microsoft executives also have egg on their faces. The company self-servingly rushed to buy an SCO license one business day after the threat letter, bringing a senior attorney to the office on a Sunday to tell the press how much Microsoft values intellectual property. Microsoft's management could have taken the time to analyze SCO's claims, if the company had wanted this license for practical and technical reasons. Their decision to buy when they did must have been motivated by a desire to add to SCO's fear campaign. Of course they'll grab any opportunity to spread fear about Linux, but this time Microsoft bought a pig in a poke.
"SCO management, if they insist on standing in the way of a train, could still claim that software they developed in the years since 1995 is being infringed by the Open Source developers. That claim, always a dubious one, will be difficult to take seriously now that their prevarication throughout this campaign has come to light. SCO would be well advised to drop their suit against IBM in exchange for IBM's agreement not to counter-sue. But IBM might not feel that charitable toward SCO.
"In contrast to SCO, Novell's made a friend among the Free Software developers. We're always happy to see people using our software. But a real partnership between an IT vendor and our community is an equal partnership, with the company donating services and new software in exchange for the value it receives. Novell has already placed important software under Open Source licenses. Today, the company has done us a tremendous service, by stomping upon an obnoxious parasite."
Oh my god, you /.'ed the conference call.... You bastards! ;-)
Will the real Unix owner, please stand up, please stand up...
*duh duh duh!!!!* (ASCII MP3)
Mmmm......sacrelicious.
How long before AT&T makes a statement of being the "real" owner of Unix?
This could make an excellent soap opera. All we need now is a love triangle in this SCO/Novell/Linux/UNIX/IBM mess!
In light of this news, I wonder if the "SC" in "SCO" will stand for "Shit's Creek".
This wasn't just plain terrible, this was fancy terrible. This was terrible with raisins in it. - Dorothy Parker
All I can say is.... this is getting really funny. it's like everyone is coming out of the woodwork with whatever sticks they have to beat the SCO beast into submission.
what's next in this saga?
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
This makes me proud to be a Novell admin! After all the years of abuse from *nix and even Windo$e admins I can stand proud behind a company that does the right thing. ;)
Proud Novell Admin, pimpin' to keep Bill in business.
"I'm just here to regulate funkyness." - James Gandolfini, as Winston in The Mexican
At this point, I'm not sure if I want it to be owned by everybody or by nobody, but at least being "owned" by two is better than by (a bad) one.
That Microsoft isn't going to give SCO money? tsk!
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
You have performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
Anyone else suprised?
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned for SEGA. ..."
-Bill Gates claims to have the IP rights to the concept of desktop computing
etc. etc.
is there no end to the madness!!!??!
Machine9dotNet
They where one of the 1500 companies to get the nastygram from SCO, and they probably had partners/customers asking them about that letter as well. And the letter probably had to go thru the legal department a couple of times. And there was probably a cooling off period as well...
Today is not a good day to be Darl McBride...
...If it weren't for these meddling kids!!!
Scooby Dooby Doo!!!
1) Oh, Shit....
2) Fight! Fight! Fight!
3) Microsoft's Lic. 6.0 vs Unix Sys V lic 0.6
4) Are Tux and the BSD Daemon safe from the pillage of The Mouse who buys Congress???
5) Iago from Aladdin: "WHY am I NOT Suprised!!"
.
Have you read the moderator guidelines? Well, have you, PUNK? (and I want a Karma: Gnarly option)
I am Spartic^H^H^H^H^H^H^H the UNIX System V IP owner!
Gentlemen...BEHOLD!
-Dr. Weird
You know, where the bad guy (SCO) comes out and talks trash about the good guy (IBM). Then when the good guy comes out to attack him, he gets jumped by another bad guy (Microsoft). And then just as they're about to pummel the hell out of IBM, Novell comes out of the crowd brandishing a folding chair...
Next week they'll be a tag match to determine the UNIX championship...in the cage!
(-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
It was in this context that we recently received your "Letter to Linux Customers." Many Novell business partners and customers apparently received the same letter. Your letter compels a response from Novell.
So who was the idiot at SCO that sent the "you're a bad Linux user" letter to Novell?
Then Novell and IBM are walking to the ring, accompanied by Bruce Pearns.
IBM and SCO start out, with IBM teasing a test of strength, SCO begins, but gets scared and immediately tags in Microsoft.
Microsoft and IBM go at it, with Microsoft gaining the upperhand. IBM is almost down and out, when a diving tag in to Novell.
HOT TAG!
Novell clears house, and the crowd is going wild, SCO gets back up, and they start double teaming both until
CHAIRSHOT!
Bruce Pearns jumps out from the side, and knocks Novell out!
JIM ROSS: "OH MUH GOD! THEY'VE BEEN DOUBLE CROSSED!"
http://use.perl.org
This should be real run.
:)
I actualy have a crowd around my desk
...And AT&T Asserts rights over Unix IP claim, claiming they never actually sold them to Novell
By reading this sig, you agree to the terms of my sig license.
.....in the land.... of the free...
...and in the home.... of the... geek....
(Rockets blazing... single tear out of the eye...)
(Cheers!)
It almost feels like we matter in the world... almost.
http://use.perl.org
Crap! I just told them I was Bruce Perens! Hang up quick!
Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
Do you charge your customers extra for fire and rain?
Unix claimed ownership of the Novel 5.0
http://ebgp.net/ccc/
From his Speech, on the Conferance Call-
"Last year we had 7 callers for our earnings, this year we have over.. 240 callers on the line"
Behold the Power of Slashdot.
Slashdotting a Telephone.
-Colin
Colin Davis
Novell reveals that after the SCO license deal, they actually sold the UNIX patents to MS to rais capital.
Tomorrows news:
MS admits that it thought any UNIX IP was worthless, and sold it to a .com startup, which has since gone bust. The UNX IP in question was then awarded to a now out-of-work janitor somewhere in the silicon valley at liquidation, in compensation for a lack of salary. A hunt for this individual is now in progress...
I am TheRaven on Soylent News
>so I just gave the name of one of the media I've written for regularly.
:)
What happens when they figure out that CDR isn't a news agency?
AD 2003 war was begining
SCO CEO: what happen
SCO lawyer: somebody set up us the bomb
SCO lawyer: we get press release
SCO CEO: main screen turn on
SCO CEO: it's you!!!
NOVEL: how are you gentlemen!
NOVEL: all your unix IP are belong to us
NOVEL: your lawsuit is on the path to dismissal
SCO CEO: what you say!!!
NOVEL: you have no chance to sue, make your time
NOVEL: ha ha ha
PHP is the solution of choice for relaying mysql errors to web users.
And if they cashed out then the SEC gets to send them to prision.....maybe they can share a cell block with Martha!
I tried as Cowboy Neal and they said, "Nice try but Mr. Neal is already registered as one of the SCO reps and will be taking questions soon".
Bad boys rape our young girls but Violet gives willingly.
Just remember stocks are like gravity...
...what goes up must come down!
and the higher it goes up the harder it'll come down.
XP is basicly 98 with a lot more extra features to hunt down and disable. --Dram
This UNIX IP character is damaged goods. Its apparently been around the block a few...dozen...times. Let's just give up and call it community property.
Free love!
A deep unwavering belief is a sure sign you're missing something...
Somewhere in Hell there's a little SCO/Rambus room, where the people that enforce the GIF patent are tortured eternally.
"Sig free in '03!"
McBride flatly admitted that SCO knew they didn't have ownership of the copyrights or patents at the time they sent "the letter" out, which specifically mentioned that SCO was defending their "intellectual property"!
I sure hope for the executive teams' sake that they haven't sold any stock since this thing started...
Who am I kidding, I hope they have!
"Here's your new cellmate - his name is Bubba."
"Um... Hi, Bubba..."
"Hello, bitch! Bend over and spread 'em!"
I think the SCO has a much better attempt at a lawsuit though. Instead of being undeniably wrong, now they are so confusing I think that maybe I infringed on their contract with intellectual property they may or may not have had intrest leverage, or lawsuit capability regarding the overall goals of which are indicitive...
See!
http://use.perl.org
What is happening Jun 14th re IBM/AIX? They will revoke the AIX licence. Details will follow.
Can't use Linux. Can't use proprietary non-SCO Unix. Windows must be the only clean alternative. These ass-holes just shot the OTHER foot.
When VPNs are outlawed, only outlaws have VPNs.
No, it's the aliens, silly! In return for the secret of their anti-gravity super-luminal space-warp drive, the got a UNIX license from SCO.
Stick Men
SCO proves that black is white and get hit by a bus at the next zebra crossing.
It's all fun and games until someone loses the key to the handcuffs.
Yeah, they ran through the briars!!!
And they ran through the brambles!!!
And they ran through the bushes
where a rabbit couldn't go!!!
They ran so fast that the hounds
couldn't catch 'em on
down the Provo River
to the home of SCO....
By the way, SCO is pronounced as one syllable, "sko", with a long "o". Hence SCO X is pronounced "sko-ex"...
I pronounce it "SCOX", ryhmes with "cocks".
Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
SCO's stock: Down 4%
Novell: Up 5%
IBM: Up 0.36%
Knowing SCO has their head so far up their ass they think they see daylight: Priceless.
I'd say the chance of anybody buying Linux from SCO after this is practically zero out to 6 decimal places...
"Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney
I think the evil bastards at SCO should change their number (linked from the contact us section on their pitiful excuse of a website) from
1-888-GO-LINUX to 1-888-NO-LINUX.
But, that's just me, and I'm dumb.
The older I get, the less I like everyone else.
Except that it is being speculated that Novell may be behind it, although I am skeptical. After all, I voted for the "Mongolian Cluster Fuck" option.
GF.
Lots of petrified grits
so, as soon as SCO announces what code it is, Novell coule just grant the linux community a free license to it.
To know that you have, singlehandedly:
1) Misled your shareholders.
2) Misled your customers.
3) Made your company a laughingstock with your stupid assertions and accusations.
Please enlighten us.
GJC
Gregory Casamento
## Chief Maintainer for GNUstep