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SCO Backing Off Linux Invoice Plan
rocketjam writes "CNet is reporting that the SCO Group is backing off plans to send invoices to corporate users in an effort to generate more takers of their Linux licensing plan. A spokesman said SCO executives were happy with current progress in the licensing program, and didn't feel they needed to send out invoices yet. SCO also extended the 'introductory' licensing price to the end of October, at which point the amount they are asking will double. Despite SCO's threats, 84 per cent of CIOs in a recent survey said it hasn't affected their plans to implement Linux."
I doubt this has anything to do with SCO's "satisfaction" with the level of response, but rather with the advice of their lawyers.
Generally, invoicing for other people's work is not held in high regard by the law.
~ Whence do you come, slayer of men, or where are you going, conqueror of space?
SCO doesn't like the fact that IBM and Red Hat are both fighting back. They decided it would be bad to have more companies filling suit at the same time.
"If, therefore, any be unhappy, let him remember that he is unhappy by reason of himself alone."
~Epictetus
So one CIO in 7 has changed his plans to switch to Linux.
That's not a paltry number, I'm sure.
A more interesting article regarding kids and games today is here.
They haven't sent out invoices because they're satisfied with the response on their Linux licensing program? Are you sure it isn't the fact that it would be illegal, and would get them into endless hot water? No, no, it's because they're getting loads and loads of money from 'concerned' companies.
Despite SCO's threats, 84 per cent of CIOs in a recent survey said it hasn't affected their plans to implement Linux."
This means that 16% of Linux implementations HAVE been affected by SCO's threats. I expect that this represents significant financial damage to Linux businesses as will be represented in the sure-to-ensue lawsuits that will follow SCO on its way down the toilet.
Does anyone else find it frightfully disturbing that 16% of CIO believed the SCO's claims to hold enough water that they've changed their implementation strategies? I understand why a company that wasn't already using Linux would see this as a reason not to swap. But to be using or implementing Linux and to change your mind against it because of this seems like a rather signifigant change in attitude.
We all know SCO does not want to reveal they secrets they say is their property. It's already been revealed! If SCO wants to send a bill to people or artificial entities (corporations) to use their intelectual property, then they should've obyed the Patent Laws by registering the IP in question at the patent office as theirs. Then, after the conclusion of their monopoly to profit on their IP, the IP patent is dissolved and the knowledge becomes Public Domain. Yet, according to the Bible, if IP was a secret that was never published, then the following scripture would gracefully adapt to todays situation...
Deuteronomy 29:29;
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
This is agreeable, and so is Thomas Jefferson's intention of patents on IP. Anyone willing to second this motion for the Bible and Thomas Jefferson?
Yea, Amen!
Secured Party, Without Prejudice, UCC 1-207: Creditor
84 per cent of the topics that were associated with this artical were probably unnecessary. Or is it just me who thinks that having 7 icons running down the side of an artical is a tad too many?
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Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. -- AE
SCO Group Inc (The) SCOX 20.50 4.97 (32.00%)
Red Hat Inc RHAT 12.85 -0.15 (-1.15%)
International Business Machines Corporation IBM 92.74 0.02 (0.02%)
Pump and dump time!
READY.
PRINT ""+-0
This is what happens when you have an economy run off the whims of idiots. Let's face it, most people are of average intelligence and fewer still know fuck all about anything technical. These dumb investors are going to shreek like the neighbor's little girls when the stock plummets and they walk away poor.
I don't speak from ignorance here; I'm within earshot of the neighbor's kids and they never shut up. They would cry worse still if they learned that most investors know very little about the companies they are throwing their money at. All they see is, "wow... confidence! rising stock" and they're in. I'm sorry these people are going to get so incredibly screwed.
Actually, I'd say that this is more reasonably taken from a pessimistic view. *16%* of all CIOs were negatively influenced (seems unlikely that it's a positive influence) toward Linux because of this one SCO money grab.
May we never see th
What I mean was they said they'd invoice users for the press they got out of it. They most likely saw it as a way to pump up their stock price and deflect negative publicity.
Point is, SCO is all bluff and no action. Does anyone really think they'd be stupid enough to really send those invoices and risk being bombarded with lawsuits? These guys want to be the ones filing the suits, not the ones being sued. They're trying as hard as they can to project the image that they're in control of the situation and confidently moving forward. At this point, bluster, hyperbole, and vague threats are all they have.
Someone may point out that they actually followed through with their threat to sue IBM. True, but they had to do something to initially give themselves some credibility, and they probably figured Big Blue would buy them out to make them go away. Now they're stuck in a situation they can't control, with IBM countersuing.
As for the decision to call off the invoices and extend the introductory prices for licenses, let's cut right through the bullshit and look at how businesses operate. If sales are going well, you don't back off of your strategy. If they feel that they're selling licenses to scared companies, they'd have no problem ratcheting up the pressure. They may have sold a few, and they may see sales trickle in, but they probably figure that raising the price will cause sales to decline by more than 50%, since they were going to double their prices for licenses. But my strongest suspicion is that they're stalling for time. They probably aren't selling a damn thing, and they've probably already decided that sending invoices won't help matters much.
I still firmly believe that the way to deal with these clowns is for anyone who's contributed to Linux development to sue them for slander. For an individual, filing a suit can be difficult and expensive, but perhaps those who are interested could join forces under the umbrella of an organization such as the FSF.
Look at it this way. SCO is like the cockroach in your kitchen that comes out at night to scavenge for food. Sure, it'll run and hide when the lights come on, but as soon as you leave and turn off the lights, it'll come back out. If it's one of the aggessive flying variety, it might even fly at you to frighten you, even though you're in no real danger. In any case, the only way to make the vermin go away for good is to kill it. SCO isn't going to go away until the Linux community picks up a shoe and splatters it all over the wall.
SCO are just trying to get their stock price high enough to buy a better company.
Here's a pretty good review of the Deutsche Bank analysis, along with a summary of the stock's position overall. They note that the $45 target is highly speculative, and basically hinges on whether IBM will settle or not. Given the stakes, I don't think that's likely. What is likely is that this issue will linger around for at least another 18 months, so get used to SCOX swinging wildly.
As for myself, I couldn't help doing a little day trading yesterday. Got in at $19.40, jumped out at $20.90. I'll take that anyday!
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