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SCO Taking Linux Discussion To Japan

Posted by simoniker on from the son-of-godzilla dept.

levin writes "EETimes is carrying a new story about our good friend Darl McBride, CEO of SCO. His latest escapades include a trip to Japan in response to the CE Linux Forum initiative undertaken by several big-name Japanese tech firms such as Sony and Toshiba. He's putting his famous tainted code dog-and-pony show on parade, trying to influence some of the major CELF founders."

8 of 463 comments (clear)

  1. What is a "Central Module"? by Dr.+Smeegee · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "I saw what appeared to be a word-for-word copy of about every third line of code in the central module of the Linux kernel," said Enderle of Giga Information Group, who viewed the alleged code violations two weeks ago. "The lines of code contained typos, misspellings and even copyright disclaimers. It appeared to constitute a violation of the license."

    Where can I get me one of these central modules?
    1. Re:What is a "Central Module"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Every third line of code?

      Every third line of code???

      So, we're to believe that a lazy programmer, rather than go to the trouble of writing the whole thing himself, designed and wrote 2/3ds of it and went to the trouble of inserting stolen code in the gaps? With enough precision to get a working kernel?

      Wait... is every third line a }?

  2. More icing on the Cake... by jdh-22 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why do we keep posting articles that we know are only to impose FUD on the Linux/Open source community?

    --
    Every Super Villan uses Linux.
    1. Re:More icing on the Cake... by missing000 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Why do we keep posting articles that we know are only to impose FUD on the Linux/Open source community?

      Because it is very useful to have an informed community for the media to talk to.

      You have to remember that the SCO fight is not only in court, but also largly in the court of public opinion.

      If a user is contacted by the press, it is incredibly advantageous for them to be well informed of the allegations as well as the actions of the parties making them.

      Even if we win in court, which I for one assume we will, the damage to linux adoption could be enormous if we come off as unknowledgeable and ill-prepared.

      If, on the other hand, linux users are seen as well prepared and educated, we could even stand to make gains in the business community.

      This SCO stuff is anything but trivial.

  3. This leaves one big question... by Krapangor · · Score: 5, Insightful
    ...why does nobody stop these ridiculus claims of SCO ?
    It can be done as it has been already proven in Germany.
    Nobody can make false accusations without giving proof. Any Linux distributer or the EFF or other interest groups can sue them. And if one does this SCO would to have to show the code or STFU.
    It also raises the question why IBM doesn't do this.

    The only sensible explanation for this strange behavior seems to me that SCO has some (perhaps weak) point and such a countersuit would fail. It seems to me that some of the players in this game have much more knowledge then they admit openly.

    --
    Owner of a Mensa membership card.
  4. Just more evidence. by cornice · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is just more evidence that SCO has no intent other than to harm Linux. There seems to be nothing to gain, for SCO anyway, from this escapade in Japan.

    If this were an attempted murder, the victim would be Linux. The weapon would be SCO and the detective would now be visiting everyone with a motive. Hmmm who could that be?

  5. Re:Too Bad... by gcalvin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The EETimes article makes several mentions of SCO's "Unix patents", as if patent infringement were at the core of this controversy. I was under the impression from the other articles I've read that the issues were 1) breach of contract (with respect to IBM) and 2) copyright infringement (with respect to everyone else, including the 1500 recipients of letters from SCO). This is the first mention I've heard of patents. Is it really about patents, or is Charles J. Murray (the article's author) deserving of an AssHat Award too?

  6. Every third line of code... by PickaBooga · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I am getting sick of reading this inane and insane quote:
    "I saw what appeared to be a word-for-word copy of about every third line of code in the central module of the Linux kernel," said Enderle of Giga Information Group
    How the hell do you copy every third line, without copying the other two? It would be like making a knock-off of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix where I copied every third line, and I got the other two lines from the public domain Moby Dick.

    Don't even get me started on the meaningless phrase "central module of the Linux kernel".

    It would be much more believable if he just said the whole damn thing was copied. I guess he thinks it sounds more "technical" than saying 33% was copied, because he can show off that he knows "code" is made up of "lines".

    Why doesn't he just say every third byte was copied from the Evil Master Control Program, and then scoot off on his little Tron light-cycle?

    I am getting sick of hearing that quote from that jackhole of the universe.