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IBM Countersues SCO, And More!

Posted by michael on from the house-of-cards-gets-a-push dept.

mr.crutch writes "Few details are available, but CNet is reporting that IBM has filed counterclaims against SCO. CNet also has an interview with Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik..." Jizzbug writes "Thanks to the folks of K5, we can all obtain our rights to use the Linux kernel from SCO, and without paying up to SCO's extortion. If kernel.org kernels aren't safe, sco.com kernels certainly ought to be." LWN has a copy of SCO's Linux License for your perusal. Bruce Perens is speaking of the dangers of patent portfolios to open source software, notable because IBM's counterclaims include patent infringement. And finally, a company is selling SCO Check, a tool to de-SCOify your Linux system, if SCO ever presents any evidence whatsoever of infringing code in Linux. Update: 08/08 00:16 GMT by T : SCO's public response to IBM's counterclaim is short and to the point. Among other things, it says "If IBM were serious about addressing the real problems with Linux, it would offer full customer indemnification and move away from the GPL license." Given the other links in this story, perhaps SCO should go first on that count.

3 of 1,156 comments (clear)

  1. To all you SCO shareholders: by ihummel · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Better dump that SCO stock now, lest you lose your shirts.

  2. K5 Mirror... by Bitwick · · Score: 0, Redundant

    For those having problems getting to the K5 web pages, here is a copy of the text. Hope they don't mind the re-post.
    ** How to use the 2.4 Linux kernel safely and legally. (Diaries)
    By Entendre Entendre
    Tue Aug 5th, 2003 at 05:43:46 PM EST

    And without paying SCO's extortion license fees.

    Originally posted as a comment but so much fun I had to give it a little more promotion.


    -----

    cd /usr/src/
    mkdir silly_sco
    wget
    ftp://ftp.sco.com/pub/updates/OpenLinux/3.1.1/Se rver/CSSA-2003-020.0/SRPMS/linux -2.4.13-21S.src.rpm
    rpm2cpio linux-2.4.13-21S.src.rpm > sco.cpio
    cpio -i --file sco.cpio
    bzip2 -d linux-2.4.13.tar.bz2
    tar -xf linux-2.4.13.tar
    You'll find the license agreement in linux/COPYING

    Compile, install, enjoy.

  3. SCO Responds (mod up) by XO · · Score: 0, Redundant

    SCO Media Statement Re IBM Counterclaims
    8/7/2003 4:17:00 PM

    LINDON, Utah, Aug 07, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via Comtex/ -- We view IBM's counterclaim filing today as an effort to distract attention from its flawed Linux business model. It repeats the same unsubstantiated allegations made in Red Hat's filing earlier this week. If IBM were serious about addressing the real problems with Linux, it would offer full customer indemnification and move away from the GPL license. As the stakes continue to rise in the Linux battles, it becomes increasingly clear that the core issue is bigger than SCO (SCOX) , Red Hat, or even IBM. The core issue is about the value of intellectual property in an Internet age. In a strange alliance, IBM and the Free Software Foundation have lined up on the same side of this argument in support of the GPL. IBM urges its customers to use non- warranted, unprotected software. This software violates SCO's intellectual property rights in UNIX, and fails to give comfort to customers going forward in use of Linux. If IBM wants customers to accept the GPL risk, it should indemnify them against that risk. The continuing refusal to provide customer indemnification is IBM's truest measure of belief in its recently filed claims.

    (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990421/SCOLO GO )

    Regarding Patent Accusations

    SCO has shipped these products for many years, in some cases for nearly two decades, and this is the first time that IBM has ever raised an issue about patent infringement in these products.

    Furthermore, these claims were not raised in IBM's original answer.

    SCO reiterates its position that it intends to defend its intellectual property rights. SCO will remain on course to require customers to license infringing Linux implementations as a condition of further use. This is the best and clearest course for customers to minimize Linux problems.

    SOURCE SCO

    Photo : NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990421/SCOLO G

    Media, Blake Stowell of SCO, +1-801-932-5703, bstowell@sco.com

    http://www.prnewswire.com

    Copyright (C) 2003 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.

    --
    "Champagne for my real friends - and real pain for my sham friends!" http://ericblade.postalboard.com/