Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

SCO Derides GPL, Will Revoke SGI's UNIX License

Posted by timothy on from the darl-knows-bad-letters-when-he-sees-them dept.

ComaVN writes "Not a big surprise for those who have followed the recent SCO misery, but SCO is going after SGI. According to SGI, SCO intends to terminate their Unix System V license, much like they did with IBM earlier. I guess it's hard to stop once you've chosen a certain direction for your company." sheddd writes "Does this case have any merit? Joe Formage has written a good article on SCO's strange behavior." Read on below for SCO's odd tactic of attacking the GPL by belittling IBM's legal diligence in not avoiding GPL'd software, and word on why Linux users aren't being served SCO invoices.

larry2k writes "PR newswire has an open letter from SCO to IBM.

From the letter: 'SCO believes that the GPL -- created by the Free Software Foundation to supplant current U.S. copyright laws -- is a shaky foundation on which to build a legal case.'" The release is also carried by NewsForge. Among other things, SCO says "By so strongly defending the controversial GPL, IBM is also defending a questionable licensing scheme through which it can avoid providing software indemnification for its customers."

Doesn't supplant mean "replace"? That's not what the GPL does.

And if you're wondering why you have not received an invoice from SCO for any Linux-based OS you may be running, benploni writes "From Groklaw: In this Detroit News story Blake Stowell explains why no one has received an invoice: 'SCO in August said Linux users could avoid lawsuits by paying a one-time fee of $699. The fee will rise to $1,399 on Oct. 15. Since the response to its appeal was adequate, SCO didn't send bills to thousands of Linux users, company spokesman Blake Stowell said.' [emphasis added]. We all knew there was no way they'd risk actually sending out invoices, and here's the proof."

14 of 681 comments (clear)

  1. SCO vs 12 year old girls by Gr33nNight · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey, look on the bright side. At least SCO is going after people bigger than they are instead of 12-year old girls.

    1. Re:SCO vs 12 year old girls by eclectro · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hey, look on the bright side. At least SCO is going after people bigger than they are instead of 12-year old girls.

      Unless you're 12-year old girl running linux.

      --- Does anybody know where I can download the "Barbie" distro for my niece????

      --
      Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  2. Relax by Brahmastra · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's only a matter of time before IBM lawyers destroy SCO. Just sit back, relax and watch SCO lawyers and IBM/SGI/other lawyers get into some serious battle. When it's over, SCO won't exist anymore and slashdot will run out of topics.

    1. Re:Relax by ek169 · · Score: 5, Funny
      ... so it can have more time amending its briefs.

      What they mean is : We need to fix our briefs after an "atomic" wedgy IBM and RHAT gave us.
      --
      Karma: Dude, where is my Karma???
  3. I'd love an invoice. by motorsabbath · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since the response to its appeal was adequate, SCO didn't send bills to thousands of Linux users, company spokesman Blake Stowell said.'

    Too bad - I'd love to hang up such an (otherwise ignored) invoice here in my office. SCO can kiss my ass in Macy's window during a One Day Sale.

    --
    The heat from below can burn your eyes out
    1. Re:I'd love an invoice. by Tin+Foil+Hat · · Score: 3, Funny

      Too bad, I'd like to show it to the FTC, the postal inspector and the Commonwealth's Attorney.

      Show them what, his ass or the invoice?

      --
      No matter how many of my rights are taken away, somehow I still don't feel safe. -Frigid Monkey
  4. well... by greechneb · · Score: 4, Funny

    I will revoke SCO's UNIX license effective October 3rd, 2003.

    Hey, I have as much legal right to do it to them as they do!

  5. I hereby revoke Darl's claim of IP by CatGrep · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's clear that Darl has no intellect left and therefore no intellectual property, therefore his claim to intellectual property is null and void.

  6. SGO's Legal Strategy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Master plan : Sue anybody with a 3 letter acronym.

    Lookout PBS, you're next.

  7. We can all invoice SCO! by EvilStein · · Score: 4, Funny

    What's the address? I figure that sending them a photocopy of my ass will be worth more than their "license" will be.
    At the very least, it'll be more entertaining. Heh.

  8. SCO, hyper-enlarged Right Brain by morelife · · Score: 3, Funny

    The creativity of Darl hath no end, having come full-circle past the point of being amusing it is now becoming inspirational !!

    Had Darl and Co. applied all this effort and creative thinking toward the improvement of OpenServer and Caldera Linux they might have had a customer base and a little revenue these days..

    Somehow their reputation has always been a ball and chain - I remember someone on the net posted (around 1995) in a newsgroup - "I'd rather have my spinal cord pulled out through my asshole than have to do system administration on SCO Unix."

  9. Re:Stock? by infochuck · · Score: 3, Funny

    I for one look forward to serving our new SCO overlords, and toiling in their silicone mines!

  10. a grudge-match between SCO and SGI is like... by The+Lynxpro · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...watching two senior citizens pummel each other with legacy computer equipment; one using a Commodore PET computer and the other a Trash-80...

    Then again, people do buy those *Bum Fights* DVDs...

    --
    "Right now, somewhere in this world, Scott Baio is plowing a woman he doesn't love," - Peter Griffin, *Family Guy*
  11. And in other news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    SCO has also revoked your birthday.