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SCO Invokes DMCA, Names Headers, Novell Steps In
Sparky writes "We've already heard that SCO have invoked the DMCA via 'letters sent to select Fortune 1000 Linux end users.' The specifics come via a copy of the letter reprinted at LWN.net - they've decided that they own the copyright to about 65 header files contained in Linux - largely errno.h, signal.h and ioctl.h." balloonpup also notes "CNet News has reported that SCO has reported a fourth quarter loss of $1.6 million, owing mostly to hefty legal fees in its war against Linux. SCO said they would have reported $7.4 million in earnings, if not for the $9 million payout to their lawyers. Way to go, SCO!" Many readers also point out a Groklaw article indicating Novell has registered for the copyrights on multiple versions of Unix with the U.S. Copyright Office, so that "both the SCO Group and Novell have registered for UNIX System V copyrights for the same code."
Why was this loser modded up?
Argentina was a relatively small country without global clout. America is the global hyperpower, with more military force than the next most powerful countries put together. Its decline will be rather messy for the entire world.
Here's an attractive theory: SCO's situation is a sign that the practice of petty litigation in lieu of actually doing something productive has inflated beyond the world's ability to sustain it. SCO will be the first in a series of companies to go bankrupt through irresponsible litigation, lawsuits will subside to a rational level, and thousands of lawyers will be working for porn sites to feed their families.
At least we can hope.
A Coward wrote "Nice strawman, asshole"
Strawman?
About half the shit Leftists post about wealthy people looks like it was plagerized from Joseph Goebbels.
Quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est
I don't know what's more distressing--the content of this gloom-and-doom post, or the fact that this post was moderated as +5 insightful...
The trend of the Americans to start using their vast police and military internal forces to enforce the whims of corporate copyright laws will multiply the effect of the parallel trend of outsourcing their technological corporate infrastructure to the third world. They are inducing a massive shift of their technological industry to the third world, without any thought given to the long-term consequences of such a strategy.
This is a clumsy and vague statement linking several america-is-a shithole themes in a pointless but seemingly insightful manner. What the hell is America's "Vast police and military internal forces" anyway? What does that have to do with outsourcing tech jobs to India? Of course no American corporation would think of the long-term consequences of outsourcing tech jobs... *cough*
In another generation or two, America will be the new Argentina. Or even worse off considering that they created so much global hatred toward themselves in their schitzo period (1980-2010; when their mounting arrogance and delusional-self congratuation inversely paralleled their financial global decline) that the rest of the world will have no interest in revitalizing them.
I highly doubt this scenario, but that's beside the point. You cite dubious wishful-thinking ("1980-2010; when their mounting arrogance and delusional-self congratuation inversely paralleled their financial global decline") as fact, providing zero information to back it up. "Financial global decline"? The DOW Industrial average has been over 10,000 for over a week, and is up almost 300 points in the past 5 market days. Delusional-self congratulation? In reference to areas that are relevant to this thread, just what are you talking about?
Positive and negative changes happen in the US government all the time. The Communications Decency Act came and went, and I am sure that the DMCA and Patriot Act will eventually follow the same path--although unfortunately on a longer timeframe.
Don't forget that evil corporations are the only lobbyists--the EFF is an excellent example of an organization fighting against the DMCA. There are countless others--and their voices are being heard.
In 2004 the smart young Americans are beginning to question the alternatives to being so closely tied to this declining empire, even if they rarely publicly acknowledge their doubts. Which is probably just as well, given the jingoistic politcal climate there.
Many Americans publicly voice their negative opinions about their government's behavior--and (correctly) see themselves as patriotic by doing so. Public dissent is a part of American politics. Also, considering that you (apparently) don't live in the United States, I question your ability to postulate on what "smart young Americans" are thinking.
I predict that America will do just fine over the next thirty years, with the usual ups and downs, just as it always has.
— darco