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SCO Terminates IBM's Unix License

AKAImBatman writes "SCO has terminated IBM's license to use Unix code. SCO is filing for an injunction that will require IBM to cease all sale of AIX as well as accrue damages for each day IBM continues to sell AIX."

33 of 1,065 comments (clear)

  1. in related news... by matt4077 · · Score: 5, Funny

    IBM has terminated sco's licence to live

  2. the article by smoondog · · Score: 5, Funny

    LINDON, Utah, Jun 16, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- The SCO(R) Group (SCO) (SCOX) , a leading provider of business software solutions ...

    I think whomever wrote this press release needs to do his/her research better...

    -Sean

  3. I'm shocked. by ceswiedler · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm shocked. Absolutely shocked. Why didn't they give notice? Why didn't all of the major news sources, including Slashdot, report this was coming? Never in my wildest dreams did I think that SCO would ever do something so reprehensible. I was just about to purchase OpenServer!

    I depend on Slashdot to give me some advance warning, preferably several weeks worth of daily articles with 500 posts, so that I'm not blindsided by issues like this.

  4. Damages? by Masque · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if this means I'm entitled to damages for every day I've been forced to use AIX.

    I mean, c'mon, there's at least as much legal ground to stand on, and at least I can call my psychologist as a witness....

  5. Re:Insanity! by cHiphead · · Score: 5, Funny

    i can feel it in the air... IBM is coming for those m'er f'ers and the aftermath will NOT be pretty. This will be like watching a squad of musketeers defend vs. 10 megaton nuke.

    --

    This is my sig. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  6. Re:On dear Lord by phoenix_rizzen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, they did buy Microsoft Xenix back in the late 70s or early 80s. Could be MS passed on a few stupid genes along with the source.

  7. LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!! by Shuasha · · Score: 5, Funny

    In the red corner, we have a 130 lb mental midget with nothing in his bag of tricks. In the blue corner, we have a 1200 lb gorilla with a nice suit on.
    Let's get it .... doh, it's over. :)

  8. Future licenses by Dark+Paladin · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think the big issue in question is all "future sales of AIX". That's the kicker - if IBM can't make new sales of the product, that will be as damaging to their reputation and product line as anything else out there.

    That is, of course, unless a judge does something like this:

    Judge: So, um, SCO, you're claiming IBM stole your code, right?

    SCO: Yes, and we will defend our intellectual property to the ends of the earth, to the moon and back, to the universe -

    Judge: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, can we see this source code?

    SCO: Um, well, if we showed it to you, you might steal it as well.

    Judge: Huh?

    SCO: You're in it too - we know it! How much did IBM pay you to betray us?

    Judge: Are you on drugs? I just want to see the supposed code theft -

    SCO: Master betrayed us! No - Judge is our friend! Nobody's our friend!

    Judge: Case dismissed.

    Microsoft: But - but we licensed the code.

    SCO: (Holding legal documents.) Our presssssciousssss....

    1. Re:Future licenses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Having used AIX from version 1.0 I can say
      that destroying all copies is not necessarily
      a bad thing.

  9. SCO needs to update their PR description by Frac · · Score: 5, Funny

    The SCO(R) Group (SCO), a leading provider of business software solutions...

    should be:

    The SCO(R) Group (SCO), a leading provider of frivolous lawsuits...

    Also,

    About SCO

    The SCO Group helps millions of customers in more than 82 countries to grow their businesses everyday. Headquartered in Lindon, Utah, SCO has a worldwide network of more than 11,000 resellers and 8,000 developers. SCO Global Services provides reliable localized support and services to partners and customers. For more information on SCO products and services, visit http://www.sco.com .


    should be:

    About SCO

    The SCO Group helps several SCO executives in USA grow their declining SCO stock value everyday. Headquartered in Lindon, Utah, SCO has a worldwide network of more than 11,000 lawyers and 8,000 pending lawsuits. SCO Global Services provides reliable Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt to Linux and IBM partners and customers. For more information on SCO lies, damn lies and lawsuits, visit http://www.sco.com.

  10. Schumpter's Creative Destruction - Re:Insanity! by leoaugust · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess this is what Schumpter meant by Creative Destruction.

    It would of course be better if SCO is destroyed, but if IBM needs to be destroyed SO BE IT !!

    I am all for a good fight !!!

    P.S. I just hope Linux-spirit does not get destroyed in the uncertainity that will be spawned. What can uncertainity do? Just ask Alan Greenspan.

    --
    To see a world in a grain of sand, and then to step back and see the beach where the sand lies ...
  11. zerg by Lord+Omlette · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dear SCO,

    I would like some of what you are smoking. Please hook a brother up. Thanks in advance.

    --
    [o]_O
  12. Re:Leading? SCO? HAH! by kin_korn_karn · · Score: 5, Funny

    1) print out the Unixware license document onto soft paper
    2) eat taco bell
    3) next day, wipe ass with license document
    4) mail to SCO
    5) profit!

  13. Re:Insanity! by dillon_rinker · · Score: 5, Funny

    All for one! And one for AAAGGGGHHHH!!!!

  14. Now it all makes sense. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If nobody explains it in a LOTR context, I just don't get it.

    Thanks.

    1. Re:Now it all makes sense. by chiddiscokid · · Score: 5, Funny

      I have to rely on the Dukes of Hazzard

  15. Re:Discussion With The Court Clerk by Cid+Highwind · · Score: 5, Funny

    Clerk: Sorry, but we keep all of our briefs, filings, dockets and other paperwork in an Oracle database on a big Aix server. Thanks to your licensing shenanigans we're not allowed to use that anymore, so I'm afraid you'll just have to wait while we drag all the old typewriters and filing cabinets up from storage!
    SCO: You bastards! I'm holding this court liable for damages every minute that our filings are delayed.
    Clerk: While you're waiting, you should reformat your 40,000 page complaint and 1,100 page briefs from MS word files to typed paped documents. We need those in triplicate, so you might want to send one of your lawyers out for carbon paper.

    --
    0 1 - just my two bits
  16. Stock quotes by schutten · · Score: 5, Funny
    I just love the quotes at the bottom of the Cnet article:

    down: SCO Group SCOX 10.93 -0.28
    up: Intl Bus. Machines IBM 84.50 1.75

    I guess that sums it all up...
  17. Today's MarketWatch (tm) by Chordonblue · · Score: 5, Funny

    Today SCO chewed off it's own arm to spite it's torso by terminating a lucrative licensing agreement with IBM.

    SCO CEO Darl McBride was quoted as saying, "In order to better leverage our technology IP and increase profits, we've decided to refuse to sell, license, or not sue anyone not directly involved with Microsoft's .NET initiative."

    --
    "...Well, there's egg and bacon; egg sausage and bacon; egg and spam; egg bacon and spam; egg bacon sausage and spam..."
  18. Heard in the Distance by Mansing · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was startled to hear the thundering of hooves. Having lived near Armonk, NY all my life, I had never heard such a sound before.

    "What is that horrible sound?"

    "That is the sound of the Black Steeds riding west from Armonk."

    "The Black Steeds?"

    "The Nazgul. They once were men. Now they are neither dead nor alive. They are IBM's attorneys."

  19. Re:The Death March Begins. by Mononoke · · Score: 5, Funny
    I hear SCO's war drums beating but I don't see any troops.
    You have to sign the NDA first before you are allowed to see them.

    --
    NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
  20. Re:Another URL by rjamestaylor · · Score: 5, Funny
    • The companies had engaged in brief but unfruitful discussions, SCO said last week.
    The call, intercepted by an unnamed source, went like this:
    • Operator: Thank you for calling IBM. How may I direct your call?
      SCO: Mr. Palmisano, please.
      Operator: May I tell him who's calling?
      SCO: Darl McBride, CEO of SCO
      Operator: Oh, you again. *pause* He is still not taking your call. Would you like his voice mail?
      SCO: *sigh* Sure.
      [Flush][laughter]*click*
    --
    -- @rjamestaylor on Ello
  21. SCO Reveals Stolen Code by Eberlin · · Score: 5, Funny

    After a lot of overhyped anticipation, SCO finally released all of the offending code. It seems that SCO had patented the symbol combinations "/*" and "*/" as well as "//" -- thus proving correct that the comments were obviously stolen code.

    They are currently trying to get the courts to uphold their patent of the semi-colon, a pair of parentheses, curly braces, and the crlf combination.

    SCO has also filed a lawsuit against a 14yr old California student whose "Hello World" program infringes on SCO's patents. The student could not be reached for comments.

  22. A Slashdot First by fobbman · · Score: 5, Funny

    This has got to be the first time in Slashdot history that the Slashdot communty has hoped that a 900 pound corporate gorilla will turn a smaller Linux-related business into a fine red mist.

  23. Re:Insanity! by Tenebrious1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The National Weather Service is using AIX for some of their weather modeling. What do they do, just cease operations for a few months while they port their software...

    They could stick their heads out the window and say "it looks like rain, better bring your umbrella"

    --
    -- If god wanted me to have a sig, he'd have given me a sense of humor.
  24. SCO Business Plan by appleLaserWriter · · Score: 5, Funny

    1) Aim shotgun at foot
    2) Pull trigger
    3) ???
    4) PROFIT!!!

    IBM got its start providing IT services to the US Census beureau over 100 years ago. Today it is tightly integrated into the business and government fabric of nations around the world. IBM hires the best and brightest MBA and Law school grads every year into their corporate ranks. With that combination of inteligence and connectivity, IBM is not a force you want to fight directly.

    Beginning this year, IBM has appointed a new Chairman. Mr. Palmisano has a history of supporting Linux.

    This is all the motivation IBM needs to finish migrating its non-x86 platforms all the way over to Linux and completely dumping that antiquated "Unix" stuff.

    I see a lot of job opportunities for Linux hackers opening up at IBM shortly. Especially for people with both Linux and IBM mainframe or PPC experience.

  25. Albert Einstein on the SCO case by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Albert Einstein is well known for his unified field theory hypothesis. He has a lesser known theory about stupidity: "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

    Although we've never been able to prove the unified field theory, it looks like SCO is proving us the proof that Einstein was right about stupidity being infinite.

  26. Re:I can see it now by Tenebrious1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can see the army of lawyers in blue suits gearing up for battle right now.

    Hmm... I can see the next project at IBM being a supercomputer capable of playing an intricate game that requires thinking ahead many moves to counter opponent's moves... it'll be called "Deep Tort".

    --
    -- If god wanted me to have a sig, he'd have given me a sense of humor.
  27. Re:Insanity! by Dolly_Llama · · Score: 5, Funny
    This will be like watching a squad of musketeers defend vs. 10 megaton nuke.

    That's what I'm worried about. How many times have my battleships been sunk by friggen musketeers? sheesh...

    --

    Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -- Carl Sagan

  28. Headline is erroneous -- article is a troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    SCO does not have the ability to "terminate IBM's Unix license". Therefore, headline should have read, perhaps:
    • SCO Claims to Terminate IBM's Unix License
    • SCO Pretends to Terminate IBM's Unix License
    • SCO Hallucinates Terminating IBM's Unix License
    • Slashdot Troll Wearing SCO Mascot Suit "t3rm1n4t3z" Innocent Plushie Wearing "IBM" T-Shirt
    • State Og Terminates Kitten Named "IBM"
    • Journalists Laugh at Fleischer, Al-Saif, McBride
    • SCO Chief Makes "All Your Base" Joke
    • SCO Chief Barks Like Dog, Humps Furniture
    • SCO Chief Consumes Ordure; Terminates Self
    • SCO Chief Writes Bad Eminem Parody About Self
    • SCO Chief Throws Tantrum, Feces; Makes Noise Like "Warcraft III" Orc Peon
    • IBM Response: "OMG WTF LOL !1!"
  29. Re:IN SOVIET RUSSIA... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    sco% advent

    Welcome to Adventure!

    > threaten linux_users
    You get a lot of press. A group of angry penguins can be seen gathering torches in the distance.

    > examine penguins
    None of them are actually doing anything much that would interfere with your plan.

    > threaten ibm
    You get a lot more press.

    > threaten ibm_customers
    You get even more press.

    > examine ibm
    Looks like you made a mistake. More lawyers than you can shake a stick at are headed your way.

    > beat ibm lawyers
    That is not an option.

    > kill ibm lawyers
    Come now, don't be ridiculous.

    > xyzzy
    That doesn't work here.

    The IBM lawyers have caught up with you. Your company is bankrupt, and sharks are considering revoking their offers of professional courtesy towards your employees.

    You scored 0 of 357 possible points.
  30. Tomorrow on Slashdot: by Picass0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    IBM Sues SCO
    Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday June 17, @08:30AM
    from the lets-get-ready-to-rumble dept.

    AT&T Sues SCO
    Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday June 17, @08:31AM
    from the it's-an-ambush! dept.

    FSF Sues SCO
    Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday June 17, @08:32AM
    from the wouldn't-be-a-party-without-us dept.

    Apple Sues SCO
    Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday June 17, @08:33AM
    from the just-like-an-*ssrape dept.

    Novell Sues SCO
    Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday June 17, @08:34AM
    from the opps-they-aint-lying dept.

    Linus Torvalds Sues SCO
    Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday June 17, @08:35AM
    from the ELVIS-HAS-ENTERED-THE-BUILDING dept.

  31. Re:Insanity! by marko123 · · Score: 5, Funny

    B1 and B2. That should sink your Bananas in Pyjamas.

    --
    http://pcblues.com - Digits and Wood