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HP Clarifies Indemnification Offer For Linux Users
After HP extended an offer of indemnification to users who purchase Linux through HP, SCO issued a strange press release: in it, SCO claims that HP's action actually supports SCO's claims that "issues exist" with the Linux kernel's legal status. In an article at NewsForge (like Slashdot, part of OSDN), HP's Martin Fink roundly denies SCO's backhanded interpretation; a followup story quotes Bruce Perens, Linus Torvalds and ESR on the HP offer. Linus: "Indemnification is wonderful. It might be a cynical marketing tactic, but if people are asking for it, why not?" The first article also points out the limited nature of HP's indemnification claims, which are definitely not blanket protection -- installing patches not approved by HP could well make them wash their hands of your machine.
Didn't see that one coming, did we?
"But I lost my indemnification, you insensitive clod!" - Linus Torvalds
A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
Must be another glitch in the matrix.
All that is left of SCO are a couple of talking head executives and a computer that churns out press releases:
...
for (i=1; i num_companies; i++) {
if ( !indemnify(company[i]) ) {
press_release(company[i], NO_INDEMNIFY);
else {
press_release(company[i], INDEMNIFY);
}
}
OMG, I just released their source code! The horror
Toronto-area transit rider? Rate your ride.
This gets more amusing each day. It's like watching a bratty child try to argue against something they have little knowledge about.
HP: "We're offering indemnity to our customers who..."
SCO: "Ha! So you admit that your customers need indemnity!"
HP: "No, we're saying that should a lawsuit arise..."
SCO: "Haha! So you believe there should be lawsuits against Linux users!"
HP: "No, listen. We're saying that your claims..."
SCO: "HAHA! So you agree with our claims!"
HP: "Alright, listen you little..."
SCO: *fingers in ears* "I can't heeeeear you!"
I currently work at HP in the Enterprise Integration Department and this latest development does not surprise me.
The take that our department has is that Linux is well past the point where we have to worry about reliability. Our customers now ask for Linux support just in case they become disenchanted with Microsoft. We have about 350+ technicians who travel the US and Canada providing their expertise for Linux deployments in large organizations. HP never had a close relationship with Microsoft like Compaq did, and since we're on the driver's seat our ties with Microsoft are longer important.
Our next push is to deploy 64-bit server iron to most of the organizations while reducing the price of the 32-bit servers to half. What we intend to do is to convert the Win32 extension framework and recompile everything in gcc with the "-make64bit" flag. We have already re-compiled Word, Excel, Visio, Solitaire and Notepad. We're running into problems with Access and Microsoft Bob. The paperclip is at least twice as fast in Word 97.
Which is nice.
So if I offer my personal security services to young college girls who don't want to be raped, does that imply that the girls who DON'T hire me WANT to be raped?
This is my sig. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
You gotta appreciate the turnaround time though. I wish my mechanic was this quick..
Since I have car insurance, does that mean I am admitting that I am a bad driver? No, it just means that I need to protect my own ass from various idiots and greedy a-holes (ie, SCO).
This is my sig. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
During our summer vacation this year, my wife and I amused ourselves by taking leisurely drives in Ohio and photographing every diamond-shaped highway sign that we saw along the roadsides. (Well, not every sign; only the distinct ones.) For provenance, I also stood at the base of each sign and measured its GPS coordinates.
This turned out to be even more fun than a scavenger hunt, so we filled in some gaps when we returned to California, thereby proving my theorum of indemnification to users who purchase Linux through HP, which can be found in LaTeX format on my website.
Sincerely,
Donald E. Knuth, Esq.
Donald E. Knuth, Professor Emeritus of The Art of Computer Programming at Stanford University
[SCO] I'm going to stab you in the heart with this stick cause you may be cheating with my wife!
[HP] Buy and wear our armor chestplate and if they really do stab you you'll be protected.
[SCO] SEE!!! They have proven by you wearing their chestplate that you are banging my wife!
SCO representative Ima Loon pointed out that SCO had significantly more reports and comments then any other subject on /. except for Microsoft. "As we've previously shown with our big, big book of press clippings, the size and frequency of discussions concerning our company is the clearest indicator of the legitimacy of any legal claims that we are making." said Ima.
Ironic that the book is written by SChOpenhauer. I'm sure SCO will sue him for having a derivative name, not to mention publishing SCOs *real* Intellectual Property...
Kjella
Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
-3Suns
~~~~
The Revolution will be Slashdotted
So, who do you find more attractive, mel gibson or tom cruise
Objection, what has this to do with the trial?
Nothing your honour, I am just so sure of the defendants guilt that i can waste time rating the superhunks
*awed murmers*
all you are, is all you are, i'm so sorry for you.
That's some really SCO'ed up logic for you!
This looks like the same logic as: "We haven't found any WMD's in Iraq. This proves that they are hiding them".
Opus: the Swiss army knife of audio codec
"I'm at work and don't have the time to research a link. Anyone care to find this?"
;)
Yes, I care, but I don't have the time, as I am at home; reasons vary...
That's right, there is no defense against our clams! Go forth, unholy army of shellfish, and do our bidding!
(sorry)
- First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then ???, then profit.
I'm going to file a patent on a new business model: Indemnfying and insuring people agaoinst completely impossible liablities and accidents.
There are some inherent problems with this: What is impossible today might be possible somethime in the future. If I, for example, offer indemnification from all lawsuits brought by bisexual Smurfs, an alien race called "Smurfs" might be discovered in the future. One possible solution to this would be to just indemnify people from lawsuits brought by bisexual Smurfs in the Jurasic age, without the use of a time machine.
The second problem is that most people won't see bisexual Smurfs as a possility. The solution to this is a massive FUD campaign about how bisexual Smurfs are terribly offended by breathing, drinking, eating, [insert something that people do every day]. This FUD will create the demand for indemnifications.
All we need is a PayPal account, and a license to operate as an insurance agency.
I'm going to let people utilize my patented business model for a 30% cut of gross income.
Irene KHAAAAAAN!