How SCO Helped Linux Go Enterprise

An anonymous reader submits: "SCO may now have filed for UNIX copyrights and made various allegations about code-copying, but the actual complaint against IBM still seems to be focused around allegations UNIX-based enterprise technologies (such as RCU, JFS and SMP) being improperly added to Linux. Yet, reviewing the Linux kernel archives reveals some interesting and surprising background on just who helped put these technologies into Linux. PJ's GROKLAW blog has uncovered that 'Caldera Employee Was Key Linux Kernel Contributor,' including what looks like a lot of work on the early stages of JFS. The same employee's name also crops up when we look at RCU. When IBM posts RCU improvements, did he complain? No, he requests further improvements even helpfully providing a link to inspire the IBMer!"

"Lastly, definitely worth reading, Alan Cox on Linux SMP. He says that got he ideas from a book (which presumably can't be somebody's trade secret), invented his own implementation, and did this using hardware provided by Caldera (SCO themselves do acknowledge providing hardware to the Linux SMP team)." The article points out of Christof Hellwig (the Caldera-employed kernel contributor) that "He's likely a great guy, and he's undoubtedly been a trusted Linux contributor, so this is nothing against him. It's about SCO and their position in the lawsuit, and it's about IBM's affirmative defenses."

Comments

SCO didn't help Linux go Enterprise...

[jkrise]

It's trying to help itself from Enterprises that went Linux.
Big difference.

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Excommunication

[ultrabot]

How long do we have to wait for the total excommunication of SCO from the tech industry?

IBM, HP, Dell and friends could easily drop support for SCO Unix on their hardware, all OSS should refuse to compile on SCO unix (print an URL to a website explaining why). A lot could be done by adjusting autoconf or whatever.

Their representatives would not be allowed to enter premises of any company, their IP packages would be silently scrapped by routers on the internet.

Darl and Sontag would be kicked out of their yacht clubs.

Essentially, they would be told that everybody hates them. Money matters, but let's not underestimate industry recognition.

Re:Excommunication

[mkweise]

How long do we have to wait for the total excommunication of SCO from the tech industry?

I think the duty of spanking this naughty brat into submission rests upon Novell. Both as the previous owner of Unix and as fellow Mormons, I can't help but feel they're somehow responsible.

Re:Hear that?

[Anonymous Coward]

You may not have noticed, but IBM is not in the habit of spiting out its dummy and engaging in public spats with people who are suing them. IBM is like the Monolith. Its big, silent and just sits there while you do all kinds of shit to it. Then when you least expect it, it swallows you up and transports you to another dimension (Where lawyers can bend time, space and reality)

Pay me, biotch!

[cyphergirl]

Microsoft has copied some of my code, and put it in Windows. Every Windows user must pay me a $700 licensing fee or I will sue them.

What? I'm sorry, I can't show you the code -- it's a trade secret. Just trust me and sign that check.

SCO also owns the trademark on TUX (WTF?)

[tenzig_112]

SCO Trademarks Penguin Mascot, Offers Licensing Program to Linux Users

LINDON, UTAH- Just weeks after asserting part ownership over the nominally open and free Linux source code, SCO Group sent another shockwave through the software community on Monday when they announced the discovery of a long-forgotten trademark for an amiable penguin mascot. The company's legal team happened to notice an uncanny visual similarity to another unix-based flightless waterfowl and reportedly grew so excited that they spat out several thousand cease and desist letters in a single afternoon.

Fortunately for Tux fans everywhere, SCO has generously agreed to license the character to current users at a very reasonable rate. Without a license, SCO lawyers say the trademark infringing penguin must be removed from all t-shirts, screen-savers, undergarments and fine linens before the end of July or face stiff penalties.

According to USPTO records dating back to the late 1870's, SCO has reportedly also patented a method for quantifying message board popularity. Upon hearing the news Slashdot reportedly linked to itself and subsequently exploded.

There's more, but I didn't want to post the whole thing.

Re:Just remember...

[Lord_Dweomer]

"IBM employ some extremely good IP lawyers."

Yes yes, we all know this. But what I want is a large poster to put on my wall that shows this years 2003 IBM legal team, in all their blue-suited glory. Maybe with them standing atop Daryl's corpse.