SCO Invoices For Unix Licenses Get Closer

beggs writes "BusinessWeek, InfoWorld and the EE Times Online all have stories about SCO's plans to send out license invoices to Linux vendors for 'Unix license fees for Linux.' The experts advice: Wait and see what happens with the court cases before you pay." RowLowy points to ZDnet's story, which says that "SCO will pursue commercial Linux users who have discussed their Linux work publicly ... However, it won't take action until it's done more research on those businesses." JayR writes to say that Michael Dell recently told a gathering of Dell investors that Dell Computer will offer no protection from SCO lawsuits to customers who buy Linux-based systems from Dell. Keep score: an anonymous reader points out that SCO executives are still selling off their stock. Total proceeds in August of over $600,000. Senior Vice President Reginald Broughton tops the list with over $300,000."

Comments

I am not paying anything without a PO number

[Anonymous Coward]

lots of companies don't pay invoices unless they quote a purchase order number which matches the invoiced amount to within 5%

Re:End in sight ?

[oolon]

Have a look at their total holdings, HUNSAKER, JEFF F. Vice President will be cashed out completely in 1-2 months at current rate. Even the larger holders at the current rate will be cashed out in a year.

James

Can't wait...

[Anonymous Coward]

As a state agency, I'd suspect it'd go something like this...

Finance Manager: Got this invoice from SCO for some linux licenses, but it doesn't reference a Purchase Order number.

Me: We never ordered anything from them

Finance Manager: Do we use this Linux thing?

Me: Yes, but we bought it through Redhat, here is the approved purchase orders and copies of our payment vouchers

Finance Manager: So we have no business relationship with this company, nor received any goods or services from them?

Me: No

Finance Manager: Thanks, I'll forward it to the state attorney general's office for investigation.

SCO Doesn't WANT to Win!

[goldspider]

After this long, do you really think that SCO execs are so stupid to actually think their company will come out on top after all is said and done?

The probable truth is that SCO is getting free press every day, and /. is certainly no exception there. Didn't it ever occur to folks here that press is all they're looking for?

SCO bigwigs don't expect their company to pull through this, and they don't really care. All they're doing is keeping their company in the news and giving current and potential investors the impression that they are an aggressive, profit-driven company.

Once they have deemed that investors have thrown enough money their way (and driven the stock price high enough), they will bail. This will end with SCO a flaming wreck, and its executives rich, and that's ALL they want.

Re:Extortion?

[rusty0101]

Actually since you never placed an order with SCO for Linux, it is perfectly legal to send them a nice letter in response thanking them for delivering to you a product that you happen to enjoy using, but since you did not order from them, are under no legal obligation to send them any money for.

-Rusty

Re:Not so obvious.

[Red Rocket]

We are looking at a problem with government, not the corporations...

Exactly. And the problem with government is that it's been taken over by the corporations. "We the people" no longer run the government so corporations are getting out of control. Extremely bad behavior is being rewarded with extremely high profits (Microsoft) or increased stock prices (SCO).