Posted by
ryuzaki0
on from the please-be-polite dept.
AndyFewt writes "TheRegister has an article on the latest form of SCO FUD, their Roadshow. Funded by HP and kicking off on Oct. 7, SCO users throughout the U.S. and Canada can get their chance to go show Darl just how much they "love" SCO. But of course, Linux users are free to attend."
What Does Darl Get Out Of It?
by
waitigetit
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
I posted this in a previous SCO thread, but I'm reposting it here, because it's the best answer I can think of to explain SCO's "business model"
What Does Darl Get Out Of It?
Darl gets a big fat payoff if he can deliver four straight profitable quarters. Most of it is in stock, which means he'll have to keep up the fiasco for extra quarter or two to cash out.
At that point, I think we can expect him to leave SCO -- if there is any SCO left to leave. Maybe the final legal showdown will be Darl v. Ralph, to be filed in late 2004 or early 2005. We all know how much Darl loves to sue his employers.
Anyway, this means the SCO v. IBM case is not likely to ever make it to court because there's *no* motivation for Darl to go that far.
In the meantime, he'll do whatever it takes to show profit on the next two or three 10-Q's. He'll slash personnel, support, anything, doesn't matter how it affects SCO's long term prospects, as long as he shows profits each quarter.
He'll try to get people to pay for SCO IP in Linux licenses NOW, not after the case is resolved in court, because he doesn't care what happens that far down the line.
He needs the money on the books and in the 10-Q next quarter and the following quarter. He's got two profitable quarters in a row now, though he probably wouldn't have made it this quarter without cutting personnel and associated costs. Two more to go, and he's golden.
If he hasn't done it already, we can expect some *extremely* creative accounting over the next two quarters. Personally, I think that asset listed as "Goodwill" is just the start of SCO's attempts at creative accounting. Or maybe more money from MS. MS, according to the latest 10-Q (available at SEC), has apparently purchased those "expanded licensing options" that were mentioned in the April 30 10-Q.
Darl's biggest fear is that something will shut down SCO and/or it's FUD machine within the next two-three quarters. If he sounds irrational and afraid, well, that's because he is. He can't pull any more profits out of Germany. Australia, Austria, and Poland are lining up to gag him in their countries. Red Hat's trying to do the same in the U.S. Of course, none of this matters much as long as no court decisions are reached within the next 3 quarters. Which means delay, delay, and delay will be SCO's legal strategy going forward.
-- I could care less, but not without a lobotomy
Re:What Does Darl Get Out Of It?
by
Jaywalk
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
Anyway, this means the SCO v. IBM case is not likely to ever make it to court because there's *no* motivation for Darl to go that far.
Actually, he does have motivation. If he makes it obvious that the scheme is a pump and dump, he runs afoul of the SEC and shareholders, who will bleed him white with lawsuits. Even if he doesn't believe it, he has to act like he thinks the case has merit and that SCO actually does own the entire UNIX universe. A poor business decision is not a punishable offense, fraud is.
Slashdot needs to learn to treat SCO like a child. Just ignore their attention-grabbing techniques!
Hell, if slashdot didn't have 4 SCO stories a day, average shmucks like me wouldn't know or care! Quit elevating them to a position of importance!
Sorry. Rant off. Down with SCO. They suck, etc.
Davak
Re:Slashdot Press
by
Hugh+George+Asm
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
> Nothing scares these kinds of lawyers like an organised and informed public!
This is mearly posturing. The show itself is meaningless. Seats are limited to 50 people per show!! The point of the roadshow is to tell people who ARE NOT THERE what they missed, and to make SCO appear to be a big, vibrant operation that requires road shows. When they talk about it, they won't mention that it was a volkswagon bus with 1 stoned driver talking to 50 sleeping people. The'll make it sound like you missed the world if you weren't there.
It's all an illusion, smoke and mirrors, because they're banking on the fact that most people are ignorant, and have no clue what a farce their company has become. Future customers--but especially future investors who don't know SCO-- might be impressed by this circus act.
Just what we need
by
SuperBanana
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
But of course, Linux users are free to attend.
Great. World's first physical DDoS- if enough linux geeks show up, everyone else will want to leave, either because they'll be obnoxious, or look like something out of a cross between an RMS-lookalike-contest and a anti-globalism protest- and smell like one(take your pick on whether tear gas is a curse or a blessing with that crowd).
Here's an idea everyone- show up at these things impeccably dressed, clean cut, and be a perfect gentleman(or lady); wear only a small linux penguin pin like our lovely "patriots" in the US gov't are so fond of doing these days with the american flag pin. That will impress people far more than a freakshow, no matter how valid your ideas are. Rowdyness, immaturity, and messyness do not impress. They intimidate, scare, and irritate.
Show the world we're serious, because folks- the linux "community",unlike a real community, we have yet to stand up for ourselves, especially those whose work is being whole-heartedly claimed by someone else- writing opinion pieces, open letters, etc is not "standing up". Legal action is what we need, but showing up in person is a step; we need a face, and we need one better looking and more tactful than RMS.
Ask to buy a licence
by
eadz
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
As far as I know, you still can't buy a so called SCO Linux licence.
If they ever have any Q&A sessions, some well formed questions about this would show the visitors that SCO is full of it.
How much Linux-friendly HP is ?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
Use of Microsoft products is still a 'political correct' inside HP (vide: dumping OpenMail for Exchange) - their attitude in this matter propably hasn't changed significantly for last few years. After seeing HP from 'inside' for some time (as a contract worker) I've noticed that their Linux support is limited to and only to sell more intel servers and protect their back in case of Microsoft' failure (ie. losing monopoly in OS market). The last thing they want is causing Microsoft angry. In other words, they won't bet on Linux unless they're forced to. And they'll do whatever they can to NOT let Linux gain a dominance in OS market, while being careful to not to lose their 'Linux friendly' PR image. It's definitely NOT the way, IBM has chosen. It's safe to treat them as (mostly) Microsoft shop.
Re:Sponsored by HP !?!?!??!?!?
by
AstroDrabb
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
What a stab in the back. Maybe it is time to send HP a few thousand emails of complaint to let them know that this kind of behaviour is not supported in the Linux community. What bone-head at HP thought this was a good idea? Talk about the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing.
-- If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
Re:A delicate question to US readers
by
bhima
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
I would say that generally Americans do not bring up their religion, unless they either are very zealous or trying to sell you something you aren't likely to buy (Which I suppose is the same thing). Mormons aren't really a large group in the places I've been to in the US (meaning anywhere but Salt Lake) so Mormons generally aren't out to tell you much.
With the large exception of the kids that are out on their see the world and proselytize tour, which I found to be quite bizarre and the kids quite fun and interesting. Now what does that have to do with SCO and Linux and the law suite we here about every day? My theory NOTHING, as a CEO of a sizable company
Darl McBride by definition is a devout capitalist and his only God is money. Copious quantities of easy and tax free money. I would bet that his religion is more of flag convenience or upbringing than anything else, but then again I could be talking out of my ass and the Mormon CEO's really are building runways for Gay Martians to destroy GNU / Linux.
-- Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
Re:What to ask them?
by
mikeee
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
"Will you be indemnifying SCO users against violation of IBM's patents?"
Slashdot Mirror
I posted this in a previous SCO thread, but I'm reposting it here, because it's the best answer I can think of to explain SCO's "business model"
What Does Darl Get Out Of It?
Darl gets a big fat payoff if he can deliver four straight profitable quarters. Most of it is in stock, which means he'll have to keep up the fiasco for extra quarter or two to cash out.
At that point, I think we can expect him to leave SCO -- if there is any SCO left to leave. Maybe the final legal showdown will be Darl v. Ralph, to be filed in late 2004 or early 2005. We all know how much Darl loves to sue his employers.
Anyway, this means the SCO v. IBM case is not likely to ever make it to court because there's *no* motivation for Darl to go that far.
In the meantime, he'll do whatever it takes to show profit on the next two or three 10-Q's. He'll slash personnel, support, anything, doesn't matter how it affects SCO's long term prospects, as long as he shows profits each quarter.
He'll try to get people to pay for SCO IP in Linux licenses NOW, not after the case is resolved in court, because he doesn't care what happens that far down the line.
He needs the money on the books and in the 10-Q next quarter and the following quarter. He's got two profitable quarters in a row now, though he probably wouldn't have made it this quarter without cutting personnel and associated costs. Two more to go, and he's golden.
If he hasn't done it already, we can expect some *extremely* creative accounting over the next two quarters. Personally, I think that asset listed as "Goodwill" is just the start of SCO's attempts at creative accounting. Or maybe more money from MS. MS, according to the latest 10-Q (available at SEC), has apparently purchased those "expanded licensing options" that were mentioned in the April 30 10-Q.
Darl's biggest fear is that something will shut down SCO and/or it's FUD machine within the next two-three quarters. If he sounds irrational and afraid, well, that's because he is. He can't pull any more profits out of Germany. Australia, Austria, and Poland are lining up to gag him in their countries. Red Hat's trying to do the same in the U.S. Of course, none of this matters much as long as no court decisions are reached within the next 3 quarters. Which means delay, delay, and delay will be SCO's legal strategy going forward.
I could care less, but not without a lobotomy
Slashdot needs to learn to treat SCO like a child. Just ignore their attention-grabbing techniques!
Hell, if slashdot didn't have 4 SCO stories a day, average shmucks like me wouldn't know or care! Quit elevating them to a position of importance!
Sorry. Rant off. Down with SCO. They suck, etc.
Davak
Great. World's first physical DDoS- if enough linux geeks show up, everyone else will want to leave, either because they'll be obnoxious, or look like something out of a cross between an RMS-lookalike-contest and a anti-globalism protest- and smell like one(take your pick on whether tear gas is a curse or a blessing with that crowd).
Here's an idea everyone- show up at these things impeccably dressed, clean cut, and be a perfect gentleman(or lady); wear only a small linux penguin pin like our lovely "patriots" in the US gov't are so fond of doing these days with the american flag pin. That will impress people far more than a freakshow, no matter how valid your ideas are. Rowdyness, immaturity, and messyness do not impress. They intimidate, scare, and irritate.
Show the world we're serious, because folks- the linux "community",unlike a real community, we have yet to stand up for ourselves, especially those whose work is being whole-heartedly claimed by someone else- writing opinion pieces, open letters, etc is not "standing up". Legal action is what we need, but showing up in person is a step; we need a face, and we need one better looking and more tactful than RMS.
Please help metamoderate.
As far as I know, you still can't buy a so called SCO Linux licence.
If they ever have any Q&A sessions, some well formed questions about this would show the visitors that SCO is full of it.
Use of Microsoft products is still a 'political correct' inside HP (vide: dumping OpenMail for Exchange) - their attitude in this matter propably hasn't changed significantly for last few years. After seeing HP from 'inside' for some time (as a contract worker) I've noticed that their Linux support is limited to and only to sell more intel servers and protect their back in case of Microsoft' failure (ie. losing monopoly in OS market). The last thing they want is causing Microsoft angry. In other words, they won't bet on Linux unless they're forced to. And they'll do whatever they can to NOT let Linux gain a dominance in OS market, while being careful to not to lose their 'Linux friendly' PR image. It's definitely NOT the way, IBM has chosen. It's safe to treat them as (mostly) Microsoft shop.
What a stab in the back. Maybe it is time to send HP a few thousand emails of complaint to let them know that this kind of behaviour is not supported in the Linux community. What bone-head at HP thought this was a good idea? Talk about the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land,
it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
With the large exception of the kids that are out on their see the world and proselytize tour, which I found to be quite bizarre and the kids quite fun and interesting. Now what does that have to do with SCO and Linux and the law suite we here about every day? My theory NOTHING, as a CEO of a sizable company
Darl McBride by definition is a devout capitalist and his only God is money. Copious quantities of easy and tax free money. I would bet that his religion is more of flag convenience or upbringing than anything else, but then again I could be talking out of my ass and the Mormon CEO's really are building runways for Gay Martians to destroy GNU / Linux.
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
"Will you be indemnifying SCO users against violation of IBM's patents?"