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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."
According to many a lawyer everywhere, judges are just the loser lawyers that made terrible grades in law school and generally suck as human beings, being that they sit up on their high chair and dispense justice. From what I've seen, it's very true. It's not so much the lawyers being asses that screws up our justice system, it's the judges "on retainer" by companies, and the just plain incompetent ones that are screwing up the justice system. Be afraid, be very afraid.
If you purchase software, and you accept the license (usually by opening the shrinkwrap or the CD case), you are bound to all its terms. The EULA is an agreement between you and the publisher of the software. If you then go and violate the terms of the EULA, then the publisher has the right to terminate the agreement, insist you immediately cease use of the software, and demand you destroy all copies of the unlicensed software. Such is the nature of any license agreement, be it with an end-user or another business. No responsible copyright holder would waive this right in the case of the terms of the license agreement being violated.
If you believe the legal system is honest, go short SCO.
If you're not so sure about the legal system, go long.
Personally, I suspect SCO's hired gun David Boies:
As federal prosecutor against Microsoft played both sides
Used (laundered) Microsoft money as a payoff in January 2001, to lose government's the case after it had already been won (good trick, though not unique)
Specifically paid U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson with a bevy of pink, nubile 8-year old boys (or equivalent)
Has more than enough cash, kidnapped children (or equivalent) on hand to buy off any U.S. District Judge in the SCO case
Indications are that Boies has already purchased the Supervising Judge, the one who picks the Judge for the circus^H^H^H^H^H^H^Htrial, and IBM's actions seem to indicate that they are having problems getting to a higher-placed Judge (known as 'buying an honest judge' in the trade).