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SCO Will Pay You Not to Use Linux

Verteiron writes: "As if things weren't weird enough already, SCO is now planning to pay companies to migrate away from Linux.. even if it's not toward UNIX. According to the summary over at Groklaw, SCO will provide 'financial incentives and discounts' to users that switch to 'other operating systems that have a stronger IP basis than Linux.' This doubly amusing when considered together with the following statements straight from SCO's 8-K form filed with the SEC: '...plans to expand SCO's intellectual property licensing program to allow for migration alternatives to end users... and continued efforts to protect SCO's UNIX intellectual property rights and SCO's belief that the private investment will enhance SCO's ability to pursue currently pending legal actions... SCO has a history of unprofitability and has only realized revenue from its SCOsource licensing initiative during the last two quarters...'"

56 of 513 comments (clear)

  1. Better than free? by gooberguy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Where do I sign up?

    --


    Karma: Meh (Mostly from meh.)
    1. Re:Better than free? by tambo · · Score: 5, Funny
      Where do I sign up?

      Right below the line that says, "Contract with SCO, a newly-acquired subsidiary of Microsoft, Inc."

      - David Stein

      --
      Computer over. Virus = very yes.
    2. Re:Better than free? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      other operating systems that have a stronger IP basis than Linux.

      Does my pirated version of Win2k counts in there?

    3. Re:Better than free? by Brad+Mace · · Score: 5, Funny

      How long do I have to switch for? Can I just keep switching back and forth and rack up some money?

    4. Re:Better than free? by iconian · · Score: 5, Funny

      Where do I sign up?

      Go to Soviet Russia and sign -- because in Soviet Russia, SCO will pay YOU!

    5. Re:Better than free? by BrynM · · Score: 3, Funny

      Does BSD count?

      --
      US Democracy:The best person for the job (among These pre-selected choices...)
    6. Re:Better than free? by kalidasa · · Score: 4, Funny

      Do I have to sign it in blood? Mephistopheles always made me sign his contracts in my own blood.

    7. Re:Better than free? by zonker · · Score: 1, Funny

      which you can then trade in for sco stock (which comes on a roll convenient for use in the bathroom).

    8. Re:Better than free? by Safety+Cap · · Score: 2, Funny
      Paging Doctor Faustus.

      Doctor Faustus, please report to the black courtesy phone.

      --
      Yeah, right.
  2. I love SCO by PorkCharSui · · Score: 3, Funny

    Holy mother of God, this story keeps getting better and better.

    1. Re:I love SCO by KingDaveRa · · Score: 3, Funny

      They've gone totally loony now!

      "Here's 10k towards a new server for you to run Windows 2003 server on"

      WHAT?! I think a few companies should maybe go take the money and buy some IBM servers running a certain IBM UNIX. That'd be one in the eye for SCO. "Its not Linux guys, honest!"

    2. Re:I love SCO by CaptBubba · · Score: 2, Funny

      There's some psychological term for it, but I think this poster pretty much sums it up.

  3. w000! by devphaeton · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have 5 FreeBSD boxes running.

    Where do i sign up?

    --


    do() || do_not(); // try();
    1. Re:w000! by Brandybuck · · Score: 2, Funny

      I've only got 4 FreeBSD boxen running. But it's no skin off my back in install dozens more! Heck, this is easier than collecting boxtops for a secret decoder ring...

      --
      Don't blame me, I didn't vote for either of them!
  4. Underwear gnomes by grasshoppa · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ok, seriously, who thinks the underwear gnomes have a better bussiness plan?

    --
    Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
    1. Re:Underwear gnomes by IthnkImParanoid · · Score: 4, Funny

      Unfortunately, they don't. The underwear gnomes never figured out that step 2 is "Get money from Microsoft."

      --
      It's nothing but crumpled porno and Ayn Rand.
    2. Re:Underwear gnomes by WTFmonkey · · Score: 4, Funny
      I know not these underwear gnomes. What are they?

      The only gnomes I know of are the ones that take shits in the corners of your eyes while you're asleep.

    3. Re:Underwear gnomes by TrombaMarina · · Score: 2, Funny
      1. LOL! The article you point to is hillarious! I wish I'd seen the episode.

      2. Your signature is excellent.

      3. My imaginary friend is MUCH better than yours.

    4. Re:Underwear gnomes by cshark · · Score: 4, Funny

      Right, but where this differs is that the underwear gnomes would need to go out and start convincing people to wear socks instead of underwear, and pay them for it.

      Which would make their business plan look something like this:

      1. Collect underwear
      2. Get $26,000,000 from microsoft.
      3. Give the money away to those that prefer to wear socks instead of underwear.
      4. PROFIT!

      --

      This signature has Super Cow Powers

  5. Sweet by Illserve · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't run Linux on my wristwatch. Where's my check?

    1. Re: Sweet by Rob+Riggs · · Score: 4, Funny

      Do you think they have a replacement OS for my LinkSys?

      --
      the growth in cynicism and rebellion has not been without cause
  6. couldn't resist by syrinx · · Score: 1, Funny

    I, for one, welcome our new SCO overlords...

    --
    Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.
    1. Re:couldn't resist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      We'd all appreciate it if you tried a little harder next time.

    2. Re:couldn't resist by Liselle · · Score: 2, Funny

      Obviously Google has been infiltrated, and the search algorithm tampered with from the inside, by the Slashdot Cliche Order (SCO for short).

      --
      Auto-reply to ACs: "Truly, you have a dizzying intellect."
  7. Sounds like a great business plan .... by scotch · · Score: 4, Funny
    4 or 5 years ago during the dot.bomb days.

    VC weenie: What's your business plan?
    Darl McB: Pay people to switch from an OS we don't own to others we don't own.
    VC weenie: Here's 5 million dollars - can I be on your board?

    --
    XML causes global warming.
  8. What I'm waiting for by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Is for them to pay me to pull my foot out of their ass.

  9. So SCO will give you a rebate if you buy Windows? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Sorry...did I say "rebate"?

  10. Konq by xanadu-xtroot.com · · Score: 2, Funny

    Tools --> Change Browser Identification --> Internet Explorer on Windows 2000

    /me then looks for the form on SCO's site.

    --
    I'm not a prophet or a stone-age man,
    I'm just a mortal with potential of a super man.
  11. FreeBSD HERE I COME!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Cool! I was just gonna switch a bunch of machines from end-of-life Red Hat to FreeBSD. FreeBSD has gone through the legal machine already, so it's intellectual property shiznit is STRONG!

    DARL WHERE IS MY CHECK BIG GUY!!!!!!

    PS: we also have some Gentoo boxes, I hope we don't have to migrate those too. But we can discuss the details.

    I'M SO READY FOR YOU DARL BABY!!!!!

  12. Huh? by snake_dad · · Score: 1, Funny

    1. Pay users to use product from competitors 2. Profit! 3. ???

    --
    karma capped .sig seeking available Slashdot poster for long-term relationship.
  13. Installing SCOware on Virtual Machines by billstewart · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sure, I'll be happy to switch N virtual machines over to a binary-only SCOware or Microsoft instead of Linux, if they'll pay me enough per virtual machine. .

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  14. I'll unplug all of my company's Linux boxes by JUSTONEMORELATTE · · Score: 3, Funny

    No, really. I love Linux, and my company uses it on many desktops (about 40%) as well as our main file server, mail server, and ftp server, and I'll unplug each and every one on Friday, November 14th if they'll pay me.
    Of course, the sad fine print is that my company is closing on Friday, November 14th, but I'll do it, by gum. Just show me the money!

    --

  15. I wonder if they would pay me.... by overbyj · · Score: 3, Funny

    to use AIX? That is not Linux.

    --
    No trees were harmed in the composition of this; however, numerous electrons were inconvenienced.
  16. Wizard of Oz by thewiz · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is really sounding like SCO believes they're trotting down the Yellow Brick Road; they are in lala-land to think they can pay major corporations to change their infrastructure; SCO would have to sell itself to get the money to do it.

    Cast:
    The Wizard: SCO
    Dorothy: Linux Users (Not in Kansas anymore)
    Toto: Tux
    Glinda, Good Witch of the North: IBM
    The Scarecrow: Darl McBride
    The Lion: SCO's shareholders
    The TinM(e)n: SCO's Lawyers
    Wicked Witch of the West: Micro$oft

    --
    If "disco" means "I learn" in Latin, does "discothèque" mean "I learn technology"?
  17. More like... by IthnkImParanoid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Potential Investor: What's your business plan?

    Guy with goatee: We'll be selling e-products over the e-web. Our e-services will include e-billing, e-shipping, and e-tracking. This will actually reduce our infrastructure and overhead costs to negative numbers, so we won't even need to actually sell anything.

    PI: Here's all my money, and my 18 year old duaghter.

    --
    It's nothing but crumpled porno and Ayn Rand.
  18. SCO's plan by EvilStein · · Score: 2, Funny

    They're trying to make such a huge, confusing mess out of the while issue that someone buys them out just to shut them up.

    SCO is getting worse than the crazy homeless people in San Francisco that scream Bible passages at you as you're walking by..
    Actually, wait. The homeless nutcases have a better business plan.

  19. SCO: Your plan has worked. by Hanzie · · Score: 4, Funny

    The article says:

    Incentives will be offered "in the coming months."

    Attention SCO: Your plan has worked!

    I'm migrating from MS to Linux right now in preparation for the incentives to migrate away later.

    --
    ********* sig: If you don't like the law, get filthy stinking rich, and buy a better one.
  20. Migrate to FBSD and get a check by nurb432 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Where the hell do i sign up before they go bankrupt?

    They are nuts.. or really hitting the drugs hard.

    I still dont understand their desire to destroy linux, if it wasnt for linux, caldera would never have had the capital to purchase SCO and start this lunacy..

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  21. New way to scam money out of SCO by ross.w · · Score: 2, Funny

    1. Switch from Linux to FreeBSD
    2. Get money from SCO
    3. Switch back
    4. Lather, rinse, repeat

    --
    If my call is important, why am I talking to a recording?
  22. Re:What other OSes are eligible? by Lispy · · Score: 2, Funny

    What about AmigaOS?
    I thought that might fit.

  23. Re:My head will burst...Daffy by bstadil · · Score: 5, Funny
    Scott Lazar over at GrokLaw had this theroy

    More like that one Daffy Duck short where he's on stage, struggling mightily to get ANY kind of audience reaction.

    He sings, he dances, and the audience just yawns. Finally he uses his one remaining sure-fire act to get a reaction. He swills down a bottle of nitroglycerin and makes himself explode.

    And the crowd goes wild, but meanwhile, nothing but of Daffy remains except for a black stain. That's what this whole thing is:

    Daffy, until it explodes and there's nothing left.

    --
    Help fight continental drift.
  24. Re:A front for Microsoft? by anthony_dipierro · · Score: 2, Funny

    What possible reason can SCO have for encouraging people to switch over to Windows (as the article indicates they might) unless they are in bed with Microsoft?

    Maybe they want people to experience first-hand how much Windows sucks?

  25. If Microsoft are behind this.... by mormop · · Score: 2, Funny

    and it turns out that SCO have been lying all the way does this make MS guilty of conspiracy to defraud?

    If so, who at MS will be held responsible for the decision because it's quite hard to believe that a minion at Microsoft could take a decision of this magnitude.

    Scene 1:

    Prison Cell containing two men. The fatter of the two seems to be dancing in a style something akin to a monkey......

    Fat man....

    That's another fine mess you've got us into Darl....

    Darl...... (add own blubbery weeping noise here)

    --
    Hmmmmmm..... Deep fried and look like Squirrel.
  26. Step by step by mobby_6kl · · Score: 1, Funny

    1) Install Linux (free)
    2) Tell SCO you use Linux
    3) Reinstall Windows/anyOS
    3) Profit!!!

  27. $50 million for crack??? by pair-a-noyd · · Score: 4, Funny

    How in God's name can so few smoke so much in so little time??

    Damn, and I thought the people on the west side were bad!

  28. Simple... by schon · · Score: 4, Funny

    How does this make sense from a business perspective?

    Simple - they're using MPAA/RIAA math!

    See, for every person who uses your IP for free, you lose money - so you figure out how much you're losing per unit, and offer people less money than that to not use your IP..

    For example, if SCO determines that they're losing $100 per Linux server, and there are currently 100,000 people running Linux that would take them up on their offer, then all they have to do is offer people $50 to not run Linux.. then Viola! They've now made a positive difference of $50,000,000 to their bottom line!

    Disclaimer: although I'm currently drunk, this makes perfect sense to me. I may or may not feel the same way once I've sobered up.

  29. Re:Is this legal? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    From what I understand of that legalese, this only applies when the company is actually supplying a product - it doesn't say anything about paying someone not to use a competitor's product if you're not selling them one of your own.

    I guess they never thought anyone would be dumb enough to actually try it.

  30. This proves it by Skim123 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Linux has a higher TCO than Windows.

    --

    I could not justify my existence if I were a turkey farmer. Would I terminate myself? Undoubtably, yes.

  31. cut the legalese by SHEENmaster · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sign right below the line that says, "Contract with SCO, a newly-acquired beeyatch of Microsoft, Inc."

    --
    You can't judge a book by the way it wears its hair.
  32. Re:SCO Will Pay You Not to Use Linux by monkeyfinger · · Score: 1, Funny

    "We are the kinights who say NIX"

  33. Everyone who said they couldn't afford a mac... by questamor · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think the most common comment I've seen on slashdot apart from anti SCO sentiments is "I'd switch to a mac tomorrow if I could afford it..."

    Combine the two!

    Switch to a mac tomorrow, and use SCO to subsidise the switch. Hell, switch ALL your linux boxes to macs and get a really big subsidy. Put SCO's money where your mouth is :)

  34. Re:Fearless prediction. by buss_error · · Score: 2, Funny
    Call me a nut, but I've half a mind to believe that MS is floating this whole SCO mess as a trial balloon, to probe the defenses of the open source community, and plans to have its' own code "stolen" and incorporated into Linux.

    OK. "NUT". *grin*

    Only if someone held a gun to Linus' head. Remember, anything that gets into the kernel, Linus takes at least a passing squint at. M$ code isn't good enough to get into the kernel.

    --
    Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
  35. More intellectual property oriented? by aldousd666 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Phew! I'm relieved to see all they are doing is expressing that which they hold deep within their hearts -- the desire to see companies everywhere strive to charge large sums of money for anything useful. And for the willingness of the population to scoff in the direction of anything with a 'less than snazzy' pricetag. I was actually worried that they were selfish bastards who thought nothing of anyone but themselves. They're really just trying to preserve the American Dream, how incredibly noble of these good 'ol boys.

    --
    Speak for yourself.
  36. Re:As was posted on Groklaw by surprise_audit · · Score: 2, Funny
    Hmm... Well, I've got a couple of servers running Linux. Suppose I wanted (don't ask me why) to switch to Windows 200x - what are the chances of getting Microsoft to provide Windows for my Sun E450? Not that I really want to switch, of course, but I'm running Linux on it and SCO seem to want me to run Windows instead...

    Idiots...

  37. Re:I'll unplug all of my company's Linux boxes by Dr.+Photo · · Score: 2, Funny

    The company was obviously crippled by the other 60%. The fact that the company survived this long is testament to Linux's wholesome GNUey goodness! :-D

  38. Re:DIE PARENT DIE by sinserve · · Score: 2, Funny

    Should the parent die at age 54? Does Netcraft confirm the death of the joke?

    Questions, questions.