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SCO Licenses Now Available

Posted by timothy on from the mind-the-rush dept.

wes33 writes "Now available at the SCO website, genuine licenses permitting you to use SCO IP that is 'necessary for you to run Linux'. And they take VISA. Looks like they're saying that any code that is similar to Unix code counts as their Unix code!? Actually, the agreement needs analysis. It looks to me that you're paying for a pig in a poke, but IANAL. Here's some of the meat: '"UNIX-based Code'" shall mean any Code or Method that: (i) in its literal or non-literal expression, structure, format, use, functionality or adaptation (ii) is based on, developed in, derived from or is similar to (iii) any Code contained in or Method devised or developed in (iv) UNIX System V or UnixWare(R), or (v) any modification or derivative work based on or licensed under UNIX System V or UnixWare. ... Provided You pay the applicable license fee and complete the required registration of the COLA, SCO grants You the right to use all, or portions of, the SCO IP only as necessary to use the Operating System on each System for which the appropriate CPUs have been licensed from SCO.'" The linked page says this so-called license applies only to commercial use.

4 of 669 comments (clear)

  1. With that license... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Even microsoft users should be coughing up !!

  2. So lets suppose I buy one. by Hawkxor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What advantages does that bestow on me? Oh, I see, none.
    Why am I better off than I would be without an SCO license? Hmm, that's not explained either.
    So without it I'll be sued or something? Well, apparently not.
    But SCO has legal backing in doing this at least, right? Actually no.

    So...anyone want to take bets on how many people actually buy a license? Probably fewer than the number of people who have bought X-10 minicams from those popup windows.

  3. Re:Also... by JasonStiletto · · Score: 5, Insightful

    don't give them money to prolong this, they'll go broke long before Rico comes into effect, so you wouldn't even get your money back.

  4. Did anyone read the EULA? by Spruce+Moose · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The EULA seems to craftily say you can use 'SCO IP' without actually saying whether there is any SCO IP in the kernel or exactly what it is. From the EULA:
    "SCO IP" shall mean the SCO intellectual property included in its UNIX-based Code in Object Code format licensed by SCO under SCO's standard commercial license.
    and a bit further down:
    "UNIX-based Code" shall mean any Code or Method that: (i) in its literal or non-literal expression, structure, format, use, functionality or adaptation (ii) is based on, developed in, derived from or is similar to (iii) any Code contained in or Method devised or developed in (iv) UNIX System V or UnixWare(R), or (v) any modification or derivative work based on or licensed under UNIX System V or UnixWare.
    finally:
    Provided You comply fully with this Grant of Rights and Obligations, SCO will not consider such use of the SCO IP licensed by You under this Agreement to be in violation of SCO's intellectual property ownership or rights.
    Nice one!