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SCO Postpones Lawsuit, Now Threatening Two

zzxc writes "In a surprise turn of events, SCO says that they need more time to prepare an announcement of who they are going to sue. According to SCO, the lawsuits will be announced tomorrow morning shortly before a phone-in conference in which will be outlining their financial report. You can call 1-800-818-5264 code 141144 Wednesday at 9:00am MST to join in with your questions, or listen to the webcast. They also have said that these first two lawsuits will be against companies that hold SCO Unix licenses. (EV1.net servers or Lindows?)"

162 of 532 comments (clear)

  1. Oh my God by iswm · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What a surpise! Sheesh, this is never going to go anywhere.

    --
    Buckethead
    1. Re:Oh my God by gcaseye6677 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      When SCO does finally sue someone, it will not be for using a Linux distribution like they want you to think. When the court filings are examined, it will probably be a breach of contract suit for some silly violation, which means they will have to sue a current SCO Unix customer. But they will do their best to spin it to the press as a Linux IP infringement suit, and lots of dumbasses will eat it all up and buy more SCO stock.

    2. Re:Oh my God by enrico_suave · · Score: 3, Funny

      they must have demotivator posters at the SCO home office...

      Procrastination Despair Demotivator

      Despair litho Idiocy also fits...

      e.

      --
      Build Your Own PVR/HTPC news, reviews, &
    3. Re:Oh my God by hdparm · · Score: 4, Funny

      Right. SCO lawyers use this formula:

      S=(1+X)i

      where

      S= number of Lawsuits they're going to file
      X= number of days following the original announcement
      i= no explanation needed

      Thus, S is always going to be an imaginary number.

    4. Re:Oh my God by c1ay · · Score: 2, Funny
      In a surprise turn of events....

      That's a laugh. Can I mod the article +1 Funny?

      I still think someone should drop Darl a line and suggest suing Canopy Group. The press release could read something like, "Since we've already shot ourselves in one foot trying to sue IBM we've decided to shoot ourself in the other foot by suing our parent company." I'll even copyleft this post so they can use it to make the announcement. This should save them that extra time they claim to need.

      --

  2. I hope they sue those 2 Quiznoes monsters.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    They freak me out.

    1. Re:I hope they sue those 2 Quiznoes monsters.... by Shut+the+fuck+up! · · Score: 5, Funny
    2. Re:I hope they sue those 2 Quiznoes monsters.... by Surazal · · Score: 4, Funny

      Wow... the first web cartoon to ever cause me to spontaneously grow three new limbs.

      My parents were mystified as to where those guys came from when they saw the Quizno's commerials... me being the regular FARK guy I am these days of course I had the explanation for them in full.

      "Yeah the guy who did those animals really is a weird guy."

      End of story. :)

      --
      --- Journals are boring; Go to my web page instead
  3. Ummm.... by I_am_Rambi · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They are going to sue 1. Ev1servers.com 2. Microsoft just kidding. Google is probably on the list. Didn't SCO have a ceast and desist lawsuit until its proven?

    1. Re:Ummm.... by toltas · · Score: 4, Informative

      That's only in Germany and other smarter countries.

      And im an American =\

    2. Re:Ummm.... by nmoog · · Score: 5, Informative
      Google, which uses thousands of Linux servers to power its search engine, is not the target of the initial suits, Stowell added.
      Nope. Not google. Then again they said they'd sue someone today, and they lied about that as well.
    3. Re:Ummm.... by TheLinuxSRC · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They won't sue EV1. That is the only company that will validate their claims publicly. Suing M$ would be "biting the hand that feeds them" so they are out. My guess is the suit will not even be about "SCO IP" in Linux. It will be some bastardization of a contract dispute. *sigh*

    4. Re:Ummm.... by zurab · · Score: 5, Informative
      Google is probably on the list.

      Ahh the magic of the linked article:

      Google, which uses thousands of Linux servers to power its search engine, is not the target of the initial suits, Stowell added.

      Besides, I don't know what legal principle they can use to sue any Linux user. Copyright violation? No. Contract violation? No, most don't have any contracts with SCO. Patents? They've never said anything about those. Trade secrets? Nope.

      So, what are they mumbling? Anyone they can sue has to have a contract with them, i.e. be a licensee, so they can allege a contract violation (like IBM). Maybe SGI? Novell? Sun? Who knows. They have exactly nothing to go after Linux users in general.
    5. Re:Ummm.... by hackstraw · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Does anyone in the justice system have any common sense?

      The whole thing that SCO is trying to "sell" is a binary runtime license(WTF-TM). Yet SCO will not distribute the binary to you, nor will it supply any support for the "product". Notwithstanding that there is no legal grounds to support SCO's ownership of said intellectual property (yet).

      Is this a new business model or a non existant one?

    6. Re:Ummm.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Is this a new business model or a non existant one?

      It's a brilliant business model. They don't have to actually claim ownership of anyone else's product because they aren't distributing or granting anything related to that product. They don't have to follow the terms of the GPL, because they aren't actually using the GPL. They don't have to cease distributing GPLed products, because they aren't actually violating the GPL, just loudly and constantly threatening they will violate it.

      They are selling you a license from SCO to use someone else's product. Can they do this? Well, yes, they aren't actually licensing you anything. It's just a piece of paper that says "SCO says it's okay for you to use Linux". And they can certainly give you a piece of paper that says SCO says you can use something. The trick is that they're then trying to create the impression you're required to have an SCO license to use linux but never actually *DIRECTLY* saying those words-- and seem to be pulling it off.

      It is like McDonalds was selling licenses to eat Subway sandwiches and strongly implying it was illegal to eat at Subway without one of these licenses and doing absolutely everything possible to convey this impression without actually saying the exact words "it is illegal to eat at subway without one of these licenses" (which would open them up to a preliminary injunction).

    7. Re:Ummm.... by Ironica · · Score: 2, Funny

      Is this a new business model or a non existant one?

      This is a pretty old business model, but it's been cleverly retooled to remove the reliance on pilfering of underpants.

      --
      Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
    8. Re:Ummm.... by morgajel · · Score: 2, Insightful

      you have to ask yourself- does microsoft have more to gain by being sued by sco, giving sco money for reparations, and legally proving linux is a huge risk, or not being sued at all?

      MS has already given sco money- I'm sure they wouldn't mind giving them some more if it furthered their cause.

      /me adjusts his wooden sword and tinfoil hat.

      --
      Looking for Book Reviews? Check out Literary Escapism.
    9. Re:Ummm.... by Ironica · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It is like McDonalds was selling licenses to eat Subway sandwiches and strongly implying it was illegal to eat at Subway without one of these licenses

      I can see it now...

      "McDonald's has proof that Subway sandwiches incorporate trade secret and copyrighted elements of the Secret Sauce(TM). Because it is a trade secret, we cannot divulge this proof. Consider this notice that consumption of Subway sandwiches is tantamount to theft of McDonald's intellectual property. By the way, because of Subway's use of the 'lose weight' advertising gimmick, all of their sandwiches are now public domain."

      "McDonald's is now prepared to release information that will demonstrate incontrovertibly that Subway is in violation of our Secret Sauce(TM) copyright. We can demonstrate that Subway uses this particular pickle recipe in their sandwiches, which is clearly the same used in the Secret Sauce(TM)."

      - Followed by announcement from Heinz Corp. that those pickles are their product, have always been their product, and predate the birth of Ray Kroc.

      --
      Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
  4. Wha? by Rick+Zeman · · Score: 4, Funny

    They also have said that these first two lawsuits will be against companies that hold SCO Unix licenses. (EV1.net servers or Lindows?)"

    Huh? That can't be right. How could they be suing EV1 when they've already paid their extort^K^K^K^Klicense money.

    1. Re:Wha? by prat393 · · Score: 4, Informative

      EV1 holds a linux license. Unix licensees are people who pay to use Unix, i.e. AIX, Solaris, etc.

    2. Re:Wha? by eddy · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I don't think they'll sue EV1... yet, but they'll definitely go after current or former TSG customers (for running the compatibility layer on linux)

      So this isn't actually directed directly at linux, it's more about SCO following through on their slogan:

      "Contracts are what you use against parties you have relationships with" -- http://e-businessadvisor.com/doc/12514

      They'll just hope the press will go with them and focus on the Linux part not the "SCO Unix(R)" part.

      --
      Belief is the currency of delusion.
    3. Re:Wha? by TheLinuxSRC · · Score: 4, Funny

      The also said:

      "We'll have at least one suit that's filed today before the end of the day," Stowell said Tuesday, with two suits more likely. "There is a high possibility we will be announcing two."

      Now, where I learned to count (and you can correct me if I am wrong here) that would be three suits (?). But it does follow SCO logic... Look at the wookie....

  5. Oblig Info Minister Comment by Knunov · · Score: 4, Funny

    "We will sue TWO of them against the gates of the courtroom...IN ONE HOUR!"

    Knunov

    --
    Why do users with IDs under 100,000 or over 700,000 usually have the most worthwhile comments?
    1. Re:Oblig Info Minister Comment by Valar · · Score: 5, Funny

      The open source zealots are committing suicide by the thousands in front of the borders of Utah!! No infidel penguinistas will ever devaluate our stock! Never!

  6. irresponsible by porkface · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Somebody get on the call and ask them "If you have such a strong company and case, why do you feel the need to couple lawsuit announcements with your financial call?"

    1. Re:irresponsible by Mechanik · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Somebody get on the call and ask them "If you have such a strong company and case, why do you feel the need to couple lawsuit announcements with your financial call?"

      I would LOVE to see the Slashdot effect at work on this conference call. I don't suppose we're so lucky as for SCO to have set this up on a system where they pay per user connected, are we? :-)

      That and it would be great having 10,000 slashdotters heckling them :-)


      Mechanik

    2. Re:irresponsible by kommakazi · · Score: 2, Interesting

      This actually seems like a really good idea, it's like a DOS attack just over the phone...we can easily have them swamped with questions they really don't want to answer.

  7. My bet. by Jaywalk · · Score: 4, Insightful
    EV1.net servers or Lindows?
    Since SCO seems to be acting as SCO's catspaw and EV1.net seems to be in league with them both, I'm betting on Lindows. Another chance for SCO to do Microsoft's dirty work for them.
    --
    ===== Murphy's Law is recursive. =====
    1. Re:My bet. by One+Louder · · Score: 5, Insightful
      That seems unlikely.

      Lindows is a technology company, and isn't in the Fortune 1000, which doesn't seem to match the profile of the targets announced yesterday.

      Of course, SCO has said one thing and done another many, many times. If they did attack Lindows.com, then that would certainly dismiss any notion that they aren't shilling for Redmond. Given the potential multi-year delay in the MS trademark litigation, there are probably more than a few experienced IP lawyers on retainer by Lindows.com that are looking for someone else's leg to chew on. And certainly Robertson would love to squeeze more than a little PR out of such a suit.

    2. Re:My bet. by DavidBartlett · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Actually, Lindows also licenses form them (there was a pre-existing contract)

      --

      -DB-
      E-mail is like a prison: a prison with no walls... and no toilet. -Strong Bad
  8. I know I need to suspend logic with SCO... by metallicagoaltender · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Obviously logic hasn't played a big part in any of their actions, but why in the hell would they sue EV1, one of the few companies that bothered to buy an SCO license, not to mention the fact that they admitted it!

    It's not exactly case of biting the hand that feeds you, but it certainly be a case of alienating an ally that probably doesn't need to be alienated.

  9. Suing SCO licensees? by Aardpig · · Score: 3, Insightful

    They also have said that these first two lawsuits will be against companies that hold SCO Unix licenses.

    When a company or organisation starts suing its own customers, then it's a sure sign that its business model is completely fucked. Look at the RIAA: suing Joe Teenager, to try and offset the fact that their profits are dropping like a lead balloon.

    --
    Tubal-Cain smokes the white owl.
    1. Re:Suing SCO licensees? by beware1000 · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Thank you for your loyalty, have a lawsuit"

    2. Re:Suing SCO licensees? by justMichael · · Score: 5, Insightful
      You mis-quoted the article...
      ...it has targeted for lawsuits, but it has said the first two will be aimed at companies that hold Unix licenses.

      There is no SCO before Unix in that sentance.

      Further up the article you will see
      SCO, which owns a disputed amount of Unix intellectual property, inherited the agreements by which inventor AT&T and its successors licensed the operating system to IBM, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, Silicon Graphics, numerous universities and others.

      It's a safe bet that who ever they are going after is in that list.
    3. Re:Suing SCO licensees? by M00TP01NT · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The only thing that would make sense in this context ("making sense" of course in a fskd up SCO way...) is that the suit will be a breach of contract suit vs a copyright infringement case.

      What I mean by that is that SCO will claim that the defendant is breaching its UNIX license by NOT paying the Unix per-server fee for Linux servers. Said another way, if the defendant has agreed to pay SCO $X per UNIX server under its SCO Unix license, and has been calculating the license fees assuming that Linux servers didn't count, then SCO would claim that -- because Linux is UNIX (don't ya know) -- the licensee/defendant has been underpaying SCO.

      SCO is likely to get more bang for its litigation buck by suing customers under this theory (however wack that is) then suing companies who have no contractual relationship to it.

      But then again, I am not an IP lawyer.

    4. Re:Suing SCO licensees? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      >> It's a safe bet that who ever they are going
      >> after is in that list.

      I'm not sure about that. Does the Vatican run Linux? That's about as close as we can get to: "SCO sues God" which seems to be the logical conclusion to all of this. ;-)

    5. Re:Suing SCO licensees? by GOD_ALMIGHTY · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I was wondering when someone was going to catch that. I think the first 50 guesses on this thread could be modded off-topic.

      My personal guess is SGI and HP. Sun already bought a license and SCO is already suing Novell and IBM. I doubt they would go after a university, they want a quick settlement to fuel their pump and dump scheme and a university might fight longer.

      Anyone got odds?

      --
      Arrogance is Confidence which lacks integrity. -- me
    6. Re:Suing SCO licensees? by MrByte420 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well..

      It appears, Yes..
      Lets see what SCO does with this one...

      sh-2.05a$ telnet www.vatican.va 80
      Trying 212.77.1.243...
      Connected to www.vatican.va.
      Escape character is '^]'.
      GET / HTTP/1.0

      HTTP/1.1 200 OK
      Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2004 04:11:56 GMT
      Server: Apache/1.3.27 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.8.9 OpenSSL/0.9.6g PHP/4.2.2
      Last-Modified: Tue, 03 Sep 2002 15:30:18 GMT

      --
      If religous zealots don't believe in Evolution, then why are they so worried about bird flu?
    7. Re:Suing SCO licensees? by kalidasa · · Score: 3, Funny

      Connected to www.vatican.va.
      Escape character is '^]'.
      GET / HTTP/1.0

      HTTP/1.1 200 OK
      Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2004 04:11:56 GMT
      Server: Apache/1.3.27 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.8.9 OpenSSL/0.9.6g PHP/4.2.2

      Well, there it is, folks, final proof: God runs UNIX. You Windows folks had better repent, and right soon.

  10. News? by ObviousGuy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    All this play by play of SCO is really tiring. It's like a bunch of fleas issuing flyers every time the dog takes a walk. Yes, something's happening. No, it's not that important.

    --
    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
    1. Re:News? by Xtifr · · Score: 4, Funny

      Actually, slashdot blew a perfect opportunity to post a dupe that wasn't a dupe (for once). "SCO says they'll sue an end user tomorrow" was a headline yesterday and could have been an equally valid headline today. :)

      In any case, I'd explain how you can set your preferences so you don't have to waste your time on SCOldera stories if you don't find them interesting, but since you're "ObviousGuy", I don't have to point out something so obvious to you, do I? :p ;)

  11. Prediction: by jasonfncsu · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I predict that SCO will be heavily traded tomorrow: People intellegent enough to know when they see the horrid profit reports to drop the stock. And a bunch of saps who will buy up the stock (ooh! litigation! money!). Oh, and I'm starting a pool on who will be sued: My guesses: SGI and HP

    --
    Jason Faulkner
    Old Os Administrator
    jason@oldos.org
    oldos.
  12. Hello, my name is George by BoneFlower · · Score: 4, Funny

    And I'm addicted to SCO news stories.

    1. Re:Hello, my name is George by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hello George.

      My name is Anonymous Coward. I spend all my time on slashdot, groklaw and the yahoo SCOX board reading and writing about newSCO.

      Unlike you, I'm not addicted. I can stop any time, it's just that I don't want to.

      This makes me a better person than you. HTH.

  13. slashdot the telecon? by sroddy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'd hate to pay the bill for that telecon. Considering it usually costs $1 per minute per participant, perhaps we can put a dent in their extortion fund!

    Seriously though, I hope the company that is hosting the telecon has a lot of lines reserved.

  14. The only logical choice.... by overbyj · · Score: 4, Funny

    is for SCO to sue SCO. They are not a tech company but they use Linux. (go check Netcraft....they have actually dabbled in BSD for a bit on www.sco.com)

    --
    No trees were harmed in the composition of this; however, numerous electrons were inconvenienced.
    1. Re:The only logical choice.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      They could sue themselves for an infinite amout of money and settle out of court.

    2. Re:The only logical choice.... by the_womble · · Score: 2, Funny

      They could then show an infinite amount of revenue but show the cost as a capital expense and therefore make an infinite profit.

  15. Basically by LittleLebowskiUrbanA · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is the second announcement about an upcoming announcement today by SCO, right?
    Meanwhile PJ at Groklaw is busy tearing them a new one over mentioning her in one of their propaganda blasts. Good reading. Hate to have her as one of my enemies.

    1. Re:Basically by Unoti · · Score: 3, Informative

      That is good reading. My favorite part is where teh SCO PR guy says, "I find that there is so much misinformation on Groklaw that is misconstrued and twisted that it's probably one step above a lot of the ranting and dribble that takes place on Slashdot.'. . ." Isn't is drivel, not dribble?

  16. I was afraid we wouldn't have more SCO Stories by HappyCitizen · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I can't believe they are still around. Other countries take control and don't let them spread their junk. Why can't they be stopped here in the US too? I mean, it just urks me that after producing no evidence and spreading FUD, they haven't been required to stop, and in fact will file another backless lawsuit (or so the claim). Atleast its a good sign that they are taking so long. It shows that they're running out of juice

    --
    http://www.beyourowneviloverlord.tk
    http://www.frozenchickenthrowing.tk
    http://www.killercamel.tk
    1. Re:I was afraid we wouldn't have more SCO Stories by Pengo · · Score: 3, Insightful


      No kidding.

      Racketeering is alive and well here in the good old USA, and frankly I am about fed up.

      I have no idea what the fuck our legal system is doing even entertaining these crooks..

  17. Haha! by cliffy2000 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "They also have said that these first two lawsuits will be against companies that hold SCO Unix licenses." Wow. That's a great business plan. Alienate your few and diminishing customers.

  18. Lars Ulrich is working for SCO now? by tulmad · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "They also have said that these first two lawsuits will be against companies that hold SCO Unix licenses."

    Wow, sounds like they're taking a page out of Metallica's book for this one.

    --
    "In case of emergency, break glass. Scream. Bleed to death."
  19. Why "may be EV1" ? by lazy_arabica · · Score: 2, Insightful
    They also have said that these first two lawsuits will be against companies that hold SCO Unix licenses. (EV1.net servers or Lindows?)


    I don't see why they may sue EV1. Perhaps is it me, but EV1 paid for their "Linux IP License", which should protect them. And anyway, it's about companies with SCO UNIX licenses, which is not the same, simply because it is a different product.
    1. Re:Why "may be EV1" ? by Dunark · · Score: 2, Funny
      ... but EV1 paid for their "Linux IP License" ...

      Yeah, so that means they're one of very few companies that's stupid enough to be a suitable defendant.

    2. Re:Why "may be EV1" ? by gcaseye6677 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Suing EV1 less than 72 hours after they bought an SCO Linux IP License would be completely illogical, even for SCO. Everyone, including the Deutsch Bank anal-ists and Laura Didio, would then see the entire case as a big sham. They would completely lose the propaganda battle, which is the only battle they have a chance of winning in the first place. The entire scam would unravel as people realized there was no chance of SCO making money on Linux licenses, since nobody would buy one just to get sued 3 days later.

  20. Re:.. the aftermath.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    After being in the revenge business for so long....

    How about being the Dread Pirate Roberts?

  21. EV1 by trungson · · Score: 2, Insightful

    EV1 already bought the licenses from SCO (what a shame!) why does SCO want to sue them?

    --
    Son Nguyen
  22. Re:.. the aftermath.. by cryms0n · · Score: 5, Funny

    Probably the same thing we did before SCO came onto the scene.

    Masturbate furiously.

    Huzzah!

  23. EV1.net or Lindows? by Aardpig · · Score: 3, Funny

    They also have said that these first two lawsuits will be against companies that hold SCO Unix licenses. (EV1.net servers or Lindows?)"

    Since EV1.net is in the process of climbing into bed with Microsoft, and SCO has been warming itself under the same blankets for quite some time, I think it more likely that Lindows will be sent to the doghouse.

    Then again, in a vain attempt to turn back the tide of hatred directed at it, SCO might turn around and sue Microsoft. What a twist that would be!

    --
    Tubal-Cain smokes the white owl.
    1. Re:EV1.net or Lindows? by El · · Score: 2, Funny

      SCO might turn around and sue Microsoft. What a twist that would be! That would be just like Miss Piggy attacking and brutally beating Frank Oz, wouldn't it?

      --

      "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

    2. Re:EV1.net or Lindows? by Aardpig · · Score: 3, Funny

      If SCO sues Microsoft, who do we cheer for??

      Mutually-Assured Destruction!!!

      --
      Tubal-Cain smokes the white owl.
    3. Re:EV1.net or Lindows? by dmaxwell · · Score: 2, Funny

      Then again, in a vain attempt to turn back the tide of hatred directed at it, SCO might turn around and sue Microsoft. What a twist that would be!

      But they could just settle the whole thing out of court quickly. After all Microsoft respects Intellectual Property. *nudge* *nudge* *wink* *wink*

    4. Re:EV1.net or Lindows? by TioHoltzman · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I think it more likely that Lindows will be sent to the doghouse.
      We could only be so lucky!
      Michael Roberts would have a field day with this. As much as I think the guys is sort of a goof, I'd love to see this happen. The potential comedy factor alone would be well worth it.

  24. Still by kaizenfury7 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Interestingly enough, although their stock (SCOX) ha s been in a decline for the past few months (it was 16+ the last time that I saw) it jumped quite a bit today. Up 1.15 to 13.42. Any reason why?

  25. It's like the source code all over again... by sharlskdy · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think SCO is waiting for the media outlets to sign and return the NDA before they let them know who the lawsuits are against.

  26. No Surprise by mj2k · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Who really expected them to follow through? There continual refusals to provide proof of Linux infringing on SCO patents is ample evidence that their lawsuit has no basis. They (SCO executives) would be wise to not further expand their lawsuits, as each company they sue can countersue for defamation. Overall this seems like a big scam - intimidate businesses into giving SCO money for linux licenses,causing SCOX to rise, and enriching McBride & co at the expense of the clueless investors who continue to buy worthless stock.

    1. Re:No Surprise by Pieroxy · · Score: 5, Funny

      each company they sue can countersue for defamation

      And so? What exactly do they have to loose in the process?

    2. Re:No Surprise by baggins2002 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      So what, a company that is broke that gets counter sued is still broke.
      SCO has nothing to lose, that's the main reason they are doing this.
      They just found a loophole in our legal system and are abusing it. They didn't get that 50M infusion to piss it away trying to sell a product. They already proved they couldn't make money doing that.
      But they can can take that 50M into court and cause a lot of problems and increase the FUD.

    3. Re:No Surprise by HrothgarReborn · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I would not paint the investors as being innocent babes along for the ride. Anyone who would invest (or stay invested) in a company that produces legal action instead of product is just as crooked as the CEO.

    4. Re:No Surprise by Ironica · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I don't know who is worse...

      The worst may be ACs who fly profanely off the handle because someone accidentally said "patent" instead of "copyright..."

      I mean, correct the guy, sure. But frankly, it was a minor mistake in context; I didn't even notice, probably because I expected to see "copyright" and so I didn't realize he used the wrong word. It's not like the extensive posts that go on about patent infringement and the limitations on patents and how they're abusing the patent process and will get sued under whatever patent law when they actually mean copyright...

      --
      Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
    5. Re:No Surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Thier loose ass, you loser.

      (loose and lose are not the same word)

    6. Re:No Surprise by avgjoe62 · · Score: 2, Funny
      each company they sue can countersue for defamation

      And so? What exactly do they have to loose in the process?

      Thier loose ass, you loser.

      A better answer, I think, would have been "Their pants. So they can prepare to take it up the wazoo from all the pissed off companies they've needlessly sued. Loose does not mean lose."

      --

      How come Slashdot never gets Slashdotted?

    7. Re:No Surprise by mandolin · · Score: 3, Funny
      Who really expected them to follow through?

      I did, because SCO has a history of doing the dumbest thing possible, and suing another huge company is even dumber than not suing after they said they would.

    8. Re:No Surprise by Camel+Pilot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      each company they sue can countersue for defamation

      Unfortunately the worst enemy is one who has nothing to lose. SCO knows all their bases belong to IBM and if they lose (which they will) there will be nothing else left.

      This example should have people questioning the protection that a corporation provides. When it comes to reckless and slanderous behavior the liability needs to extend to the perpetrators personally and the officers of the corporation.

      If the board felt that their own fortunes could be threatened by Darl and crew's actions you would see some a very different course of events.

    9. Re:No Surprise by jhylkema · · Score: 5, Funny

      Quoth the poster:

      Unfortunately the worst enemy is one who has nothing to lose. SCO knows all their bases belong to IBM and if they lose (which they will) there will be nothing else left.

      Excuse me, sir, but I must ask you for your geek card.

      All their base are belong to IBM.

      IBM to SCO: "You have no chance to survive make your time."

    10. Re:No Surprise by gujo-odori · · Score: 4, Informative

      Not necessarily.

      For example, let's that about the time SCO announced this whole fiasco, I had gone out and bought some SCO stock (I didn't, ain't go no money, but let's say for the sake of argument that I had).

      First, I have not invested in SCO per se. I have invested in stock, but SCO didn't get my money, the person I bought the stock from got it. Whatever money SCO got from that stock came the first time they sold it. They got nothing from any sale after that. Now, if my buy was part of a general pattern of buying, then that pushes the price up and Darl can sell some of his stock and make money, or SCO could issue some new stock (AFAIK the didn't), although that would tend to push the share price down (supply and demand).

      So, here I sit with some SCO stock that I bought, but I have not really invested any money in SCO. The money is invested in the stock, but SCO doesn't get any of that money.

      Now, am I crooked? Or do I just think that whatever SCO's chances, some fool is going to come a long later and be willing to pay a lot more per share for this stock than I did, allowing me to sell it at a profit before the trial is over and walk away. SCO later goes down in flames and the stock is worthless. I made my profit, and SCO benefited not at all from my ownership of their stock.

      Is anything about that crooked, or even supportive of SCO? No, not at all. Is it a gamble? Yes. Perhaps less of one than sitting down at a table in Las Vegas, but a gamble nevertheless. I suspect that most of the holders of SCO stock are not particularly supporters of SCO, except to the extent that their hope of having the stock go up makes them hope that SCO prevails; most of them are probably simply people who believe (or at least hope) that the stock will go up and they will therefore profit.

      Oh, and in the meanwhile, my owning stock would give me voting power in shareholders' meetings; a hostile takeover of SCO could have stopped this suit dead in its tracks. Imagine if Linux supporters had bought all available SCO shares :-) Of course, that's what an IBM buyout of SCO would have achieved, and what they may well have been privately hoping would happen.

      Now, of course, it would be a bad time to buy. However, anyone who could and did buy SCO stock back when this first started to brew up made a shrewd move, and if they have since sold, a tidy profit. There's nothing wrong with that, and certainly no support of SCO in it. It's just buying a thing and later selling it for more than the purchase price. SCO gets nothing of either.

    11. Re:No Surprise by DrSkwid · · Score: 3, Insightful


      The action of you buying the stock supports the price or even raises it.

      SCO and their employees own the same stock.

      Thus : you buying the stock helps SCO and can even make them money if you are one of many such buyers who push the price upwards by generating demand.

      --
      There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
    12. Re:No Surprise by LittleBigLui · · Score: 2, Funny

      SCO: "Somebody set up us the lawsuit."
      IBM: "You don't know what you doing."

      --
      Free as in mason.
    13. Re:No Surprise by ZeeTeeKiwi · · Score: 4, Insightful
      SCO doesn't get any of that money.

      Oh yes they do. Companies with an inflated market price can use issue new stock as payment for real assets. Witness AOL buying Time Warner.

      SCO can use its new found wealth to buy next-to-worthless Canopy group assets theyreby rewarding Canopy in a method which passes muster at the SEC.

  27. Prediction of tomorrow's announcement by Pentagram · · Score: 4, Funny

    We are going to postpone our suing of two companies but tomorrow we are going to sue THREE!

    1. Re:Prediction of tomorrow's announcement by MoronGames · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, it's four companies. It's going to double each day...

      --
      hey!
  28. So the logic is... by someguy42 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...buy a SCO licence, have SCO slap a lawsuit on you anyway?? How do they expect to sell licences after this insanity?? Kinda a matter of shooting oneself in the foot.

    --
    The probability that someone is watching you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your actions.
  29. Wired News 2004 Vaporware list... by Radi-0-head · · Score: 5, Funny

    The #1 spot for Wired News' Vaporware Awards in 2004 goes to:

    SCO for their "still pending" lawsuit! Congratulations guys!

  30. Re:.. the aftermath.. by cperciva · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ... does anyone ever wonder what we /.'ers will ever do once SCO finally succumbs(sp?) to their demise?

    No, but I do wonder what /.ers would do if SCO won.

    (I'm not saying that it's likely to happen, but it would be amusing to watch the bleating.)

  31. Pixar? by AndyFewt · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Could it be Pixar? Dont they have a huge render farm of linux boxes chugging away.. not an isp or net services and its a pretty well known company (Toy story, Monsters Inc, etc)..

    However, I don't know if SCO had a unix contract with them which I believe was one of the things Darl said they would use against the company/companies.

    1. Re:Pixar? by gcaseye6677 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'd love to see how many companies drop their SCO support contracts if this actually does happen. Its pretty hard to justify keeping an overpriced contract with an obsolete vendor that is likely to use the contract against you to help with a stock scam. In any case, any company that still uses SCO servers needs to make plans to switch so they won't be without support once SCO folds in a year or so.

  32. license didn't indemnify by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you had read the article the other day on Groklaw it stated that (I'm paraphrasing) that purchasing this license doesn't allow that user to actually USE SCO's intellectual property. All it really does is say "look, we know we're in the wrong here, so let's settle up".

    Now because of the fact these people signed up for their license that shows they "admit guilt". So not only did they pay SCO the $799 (or whatever it is now) extortion fee, they also paid SCO to sue them. That's how the legal system works, my friends. EV1 and Lindows (if it's actually true) will get a first hand lesson now.

    In a sense, buying a license under these methods and terms is basically the same as signing a confession to a crime that wasn't even committed.

  33. And tomorrow... by kundor · · Score: 2, Funny
    They'll go double or nothing again!

    in two months they'll be threatening to sue everyone on the planet the day after.

  34. SCO won't Sue Lindows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Because originally SCO architected and did the preliminary work as a Service deal. Part of the contract that SCO delivered to Lindows stated that SCO would 'take care' of the GPL aspects of the code and would not provide anything that might get Lindows into trouble such as tainted source code etc etc etc.....

    Lindows later went their own way and pursued a more debian focused route, however the contract still stands, though is ulimately open to interpretation

  35. I'm scared hold me by segment · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if my SCO spoof will be the target

  36. Please, Let It Be McDonald's.... by Homebrewed · · Score: 4, Funny

    Could they, would they, please be incredibly stupid enough to sue McDonald's, whose German operations are moving to SuSE. Talk about being crushed....

  37. Re:.. the aftermath.. by theparanoidcynic · · Score: 2, Funny

    The difference is what happens with the ethanol. Most likely we'll be drinking it, but there's a slight chance that SCO will win and we'll end up using it as an accelerant to get the SCO bonfire started.
    Mmm . . . . . evil-and-cheap-liquor-flavored marshmallows.

    --
    Only in a Slashdot fantasy can a Slackware install turn into several hours of sex . . . . .
  38. SCO Unix != SCO IP by Tony · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They also have said that these first two lawsuits will be against companies that hold SCO Unix licenses. (EV1.net servers or Lindows?)

    Seems like they are saying they are going to sue someone who has already licensed Unixware or some other SCO-sold Unix OS, and *not* someone who has already licensed their "SCO IP," like EV1.

    I bet they go after someone who has used SCO's OS in the past, but has been migrating to Linux. Nothing like a little retribution.

    Of course, it's hard to tell with these bastards. They don't seem to be too.... stable. Mentally. Financially. Whatever.

    --
    Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.
  39. We can only hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That somehow it backfires such that when the press spins it, it comes out with headlines like "SCO begins suing own customers".

    All this would take is the press paying any attention to anything not directly from SCO's mouth. But maybe that's wishful thinking.

  40. SCO's Amended Complaint... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ...also was recently posted at Groklaw. Their lawyers really did a decent job in making most Darl's rantings nice and legal like.

    BSD users might find paragraph 84 interesting, since SCO basically claims it was impossible for Linux to achieve "complex multi-processor functionality" without SCO's UNIX code.

  41. Meeting Notes by Sparky77 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Darl: "Thanks everybody for listening in on this financial meeting. We've got some really good numbers to talk about today. Our core product, Turbo Litigation Plus, is doing very well right now. We've got more penetration in the court room market than any of our competitors and we feel that things are only going to get better from here on out."

    Investor: "Can I just say that I love what this latest release had done to stock prices. I'm sleeping on a bed of money at home right now."

    Darl: "That's great to hear. We're glad your happy, but please hold your comments until I'm finished speaking."

    Investor: "..."

    Darl: "Right now I'd like to announce a couple more features that we've added to Turbo Litigation Plus."

    Listeners: A hush....Pent up excitement...Maniacal greed...

    Darl: "First, we've decided to add Hasbro to our list of targets. We've discovered that the substance that give's Nerf(TM) toys their "Nerfiness", if you will, is actually part of the Intellectual Property of SCO in a very literal sense. It's what makes up 90% of our brains over here."

    Investor: "Excellent!"

    Darl: "Please man! *slaps the table* Let me speak!"

    Investor: "..."

    Darl: "Secondly, after a toss up between Ronco, the maker of the indespensible Door Saver(TM) which of course was actually invented by Billy over here, and McDonalds, maker of the McDarl, we've chosen to add, wait for it, ourselves!"

    Listeners: Gasp!

    Darl: "Yes folks, we're going to sue ourselves. I mean think about it, we own all our own Intellectial Property, we only have to pay half as much in lawyer fees, and I love to cross examine myself."

    Listeners: Applause

    Darl: "Thank you all for your time. SCO Rules!"

    Advisor: "Darl..."

    Darl: "Sorry."

    --
    One bad monkey spoils the whole barrel.
  42. AutoZone by ceswiedler · · Score: 5, Informative

    I bet one of them is AutoZone. SCO is pissed that AutoZone switched from SCO Unix to Linux, and claims that couldn't have been done without violating their IP. The meat of their argument is on groklaw here (Supplemental #8), and if you scroll down you can see some AutoZone employees refute the argument. Search for the comment by 'jbgreer'.

    1. Re:AutoZone by -tji · · Score: 4, Insightful

      That's hilarious..

      For autozone, the claim that IBM copied libraries from SCO Openserver, to allow their old apps to work in Linux. Okay, there is some logic there.. that could feasibly violate licensing terms.

      But, they also claim that IBM violated their software licensing agreement with Sherwin Williams and Target, by inducing them to switch to Linux. What the hell kind of License do they have?? It forbids users from switching to competitive products? I kind of doubt it.

      The hilarious part is that customers are fleeing from SCO as quickly as they can. And, SCO claims it is because of IBM's involvement - not the fact that SCO have abandoned any hopes of competing with their products and switched the whole company focus to litigation. You would have to think that any responsible organization currently using SCO is putting together plans or actively moving to another OS.

  43. They missed a detail! by El · · Score: 2, Funny

    "There is a high possibility we will be announcing two!" said Blake Stowell Tuesday, while placing his pinky in front of his mouth as pictured here

    --

    "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

  44. In Other News, Calculus Teachers Thrilled by levin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Although SCO's actions have attracted some negative attention from the Open Source Community, many High Scool teacers are exhuberant about the company's recent actions. Bob Frampton, High School calculus teacher at Frederick Davis High said of SCO's recent actions, "It's just great, they're literally changing the way we teach mathematics to our future leaders. It's only thanks to SCO that we can ask exciting new problems such as, 'If every day SCO doubles the number of lawsuits they claim to file the following day, how many days will it take before nobody cares?' or, 'If SCO doesn't play this thing out right, how long will it take before the Fed nails them with fraud? Extra Credit: how many board members will get caught? Support your answer by proof.'"

    Not just math teachers are thrilled, though. Says Jane Yargood of another local High School, "Darl McBride really deserves a cookie, it's so great that we can teach students about logical fallacies through real world context!" With the end of this somewhat less than momentous case nowhere in sight, it's good to see that some of our educators can find the silver lining in any situation.

    --

    `which fortune`
  45. So? by Greyfox · · Score: 3, Insightful
    The more bizarre and outlandish their statements are, the more their stock price goes up.

    I bet if they announced they were suing EV1, their stock price would hit 40 before the call ended.

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  46. They said they'd announce on Tuesday... by mark-t · · Score: 4, Funny
    But they never mentioned exactly *WHICH* tuesday they were referring to.

    This reminds me of the "Free Ice Cream Tomorrow" sign that a guy had at his ice cream store in the early 1900's... when asked about why he wasn't giving ice cream away even though the sign had been up for over a day already, his response was always the same "because it's not tomorrow yet... it's still today".

  47. Bagholders Inc. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yeah, they're known as "bagholders". These are the imbeciles that know nothing about the company, the case(s) or in fact anything, except a) that the PR says "We'll sue" and b) When companies announce that they'll sue, they go up. Also, there was the "We sold an IP license" thingy, you might remember? The one that noone know if it brought in any money for SCOX, but it sure made a lot of PR!

    Anyhow; The bagholders are then sold into by insiders, which make a tidy profit.

    The job of the bagholders then is to sit around and watch the stock slowly fall down again.

    Typically they'll panic and sell at a big loss. Some bagholders are smarter and hang around for the second wave of bagholders and make it out at plus/minus zero.

  48. Hotline by lazy_arabica · · Score: 5, Funny
    You can call 1-800-818-5264 code 141144 Wednesday at 9:00am MST to join in with your questions
    And tomorrow we'll read that this damned open-source community has organized a DDoS attack on SCO hotline !!
  49. Yap Yap Yap by sashang · · Score: 2, Funny

    "You gonna bark all day little doggy, or are you gonna bite?" -- Mr. Blonde "Reservoir Dogs"

  50. This McBride dude is hilarious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    He is becoming the laughing stock of everyone.
    What have we had -
    - lies
    - more lies
    - hilarious claims
    - court battles, ridiculous by any account
    - accusations that he will sue (lies again)

    Sigh... This guy is so strange. Is it something that can be traced back to mormonism? Does multi-wivery rot the brains?

  51. Darl's an ass by codefungus · · Score: 5, Interesting

    He spent 2 years in Osaka trying to convert Buddhists to MORMANS and the most intellegent thing he can say about it is that he got free Japanese lessons?

    And the reason why Darl is the way he is?

    "I am absolutely driven by people saying I can't do something."

    Read more:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/29/business/ yourmon ey/29boss.html

    --
    -- A cat is no trade for integrity!
  52. Suprise??? Really??? by Saeed+al-Sahaf · · Score: 2, Interesting
    In a surprise turn of events, SCO says that they need more time to prepare an announcement of who they are going to sue.

    I hope this is a joke, I mean a suprise??? The announcement did exactly what SCO et al intended, it turned around their falling stock price just prior to a quarterly finantial announcment. Just more FUD.

    --
    "Who are in control, they are not in control of anything - they don't even control themselves!" - Glen Beck
  53. Re:Ummm.... SGI by glk572 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Sgi is the only party that I can think of that Sco has any real beef with, if they're smart that's who they'll go after.

    Then again when you assume you make an ass out of u and me, and assuming that Sco is smart is risky.

    --
    Well art is art isn't it, but then again water is water; and east is east; and west is west; and if you take cranberries
  54. Slashdot the 800 number? by danwiz · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Don't toll-free 800 numbers cost the company money on a per-user basis? What would the financial impact of everyone with an interest in Linux dialing in to listen?

    The slashdot-effect on an 800 number?

    1. Re:Slashdot the 800 number? by johnpaul191 · · Score: 2, Informative

      just remember caller-ID blocking does NOT work on 800 numbers in the USA.... i don't think it really matters but it's worth mentioning since people seem to forget that before they mouth off to Miss Cleo and wonder why she knows who they are.

    2. Re:Slashdot the 800 number? by Esion+Modnar · · Score: 2, Funny

      So find a payphone, if you still can. Everybody find a payphone and give Darl a call.

      --

      They say the first thing to go is your penis. Well, it's either that or your brain. I forget which...
  55. Free as in Beer by zaba · · Score: 3, Funny

    The "ever-pending" lawsuits remind me of the sign you see in some bars:

    Free beer (tomorrow)

  56. Re:Evans Data Group survey by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    8% of Linux developers think SCO's case has merit


    9% of the world's geologists think the world is flat. I pulled that statistic out of the same place you pulled your's ;-)

  57. Good Management by El · · Score: 2, Interesting

    SCO was unprofitable last quarter but would have been in the black if not for a $9 million payout to its attorneys, In most companies, wouldn't this be grounds for a shareholder lawsuit?

    --

    "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

    1. Re:Good Management by El · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If they spent the $9 million on lottery tickets, they would have a better chance of winning... and it would still be grounds for a shareholder lawsuit.

      --

      "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

  58. Top 5 comments you'll hear. by pherris · · Score: 5, Funny
    If you listen carefully you'll most likely hear someone yelling:

    5. "Darl McBride, -1 Troll!"
    4. "New SCO docs at www.tubg...."
    3. "Can someone help me fix a Perl script?"
    2. "Bad news everyone, Stephen King is dead."

    And the number one comment will be:
    "Fuck you Darl!"

    BTW, I'll be the one with the air horn.

    --
    "And a voice was screaming: 'Holy Jesus! What are these goddamn animals?'" - HST
  59. Re:How the lawsuits are going to go in court by yog · · Score: 3, Informative

    Moderators found this interesting, but it's still off topic.

    And how many times do you need to repeat this posting before everyone gets your point, Mr. Karma Whore?

    --
    it's = "it is"; its = possessive. E.g., it's flapping its wings.
  60. Re:How the lawsuits are going to go in court by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Eldred vs. Ashcroft failed because there is nothing unconstitutional about extending copyright law by 20 years every 20 years. That's all it is. Plain and simple. The constitution gives congress a lot of power when it comes to granting rights to writings and discoveries, and you can't blame the founding fathers for not foreseeing our information-based world.

    It sucks, yes. But the Supreme Court can't make the constitution say something it doesn't. Ginsberg said it best when she asked: "This flies in the face of what the founding fathers intended. But is it unconstitutional?".

    We now return to your regularly SCO-duled programming.

  61. Interesting Darl interview video on news.com by linuxguy · · Score: 3, Informative


    Look for it on the right side of the front page.

    1. Re:Interesting Darl interview video on news.com by dvNull · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Wow HUGE ..

      Darl actually suggested that if Drug companies come up with a new formula for a drug on a linux machine they would have to license the formula under the GPL.

      This guy clearly wins the "No Clue" award when it comes to licenses. Now at least we know that he most likely has misintepreted the Unix contracts

      dvnull

  62. Walmart customer! by ldj · · Score: 2, Funny

    I was in Walmart today, and the friendly greeter dude told me that Walmart struck a deal with SCO such that the 10th and 17th customers to order Linux pre-install systems tomorrow are getting sued for $14,345! A little surprise from Darl & Co.

    --
    Open Source: I'll show you mine if you show me yours.
  63. Re:your sig... by HrothgarReborn · · Score: 4, Funny

    Slashdot: where racism against Indians is OK...

    I think this is an unfair generalization. Geronimo, Cochise, and Sitting Bull are some of my favorite figures in history.

    It's as bad as saying we're totally US centric. Sheesh.

  64. Won't work by TrentC · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I can't find the Groklaw article now, but a summary from a Groklaw reader who "attended" one of their conference calls said that it was pretty obvious that SCO wasn't letting anybody ask questions that they didn't know (and therefore couldn't predict or spin to their advantage).

    No sense in upsetting the investors with those questions they don't want to answer...

    Jay (=

    1. Re:Won't work by barzok · · Score: 4, Interesting

      SCO pretty much has to do this. The last time I listened to a conference call my company's top brass gave, they had about a half-dozen callers basically ruin the party. Management stuck to their BS story, tried to brush off the queries, but it was obvious they were in a major bind because they simply couldn't handle having to answer those questions in such an environment.

  65. SCO sues two more of their own customers by Stephen+Samuel · · Score: 4, Interesting
    According to the news.com.com article, SCO is suing two more companies that have contracts with them... That makes 4 companies that they've sued in the last year -- all of whom have previous contracts with SCO (IBM, Novell and the two unnamed SCOldiers).

    At the same time, they're claiming that the best way to avoid litigation with them is to sign a contract that acknowledges that they have more power over you (and Linux code) than most people believe they have any hope of proving in court.

    Come into my parlour, said the spider to the fly.
    You'll be so much much safer when I've baked you in my pie.
    --
    Free Software: Like love, it grows best when given away.
  66. Blaze of Glory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    From the rumor mill. Suicide CEO Darl McBribe sues Merill Lynch and Credit Suisse First Boston, announced at a financial press briefing for the embattled company. Sends Wall Street reeling!!! Analysts left scratching their heads.

  67. I have visions of a lottery. by TCaM · · Score: 2, Interesting

    a big chamber with 1000 ping pong balls in it. These of course correspond to the top 1000 linux using companies in the US. Woohoo.

  68. Sounds exactly right by Animats · · Score: 5, Insightful
    That sounds right. They might actually be able to make a semi-legitimate contract claim against a customer who was an SCO licensee. No way are they going to win against a Linux user on copyright grounds alone.

    Since they scheduled the announcement for their earnings call, the numbers must be truly awful this quarter. If they had good numbers to report, they wouldn't need a distraction like this.

  69. SCO's conference call by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative
    Disclaimer: IANAL. I am, however, a teleconference operator.

    Do you want to ask Darl McBride an embarrasing question or two in front of most of the financial world? Sure, we all do!

    The problem, however, is this: In a financial results call, not just anyone is allowed to ask a question. The people presenting the call get to pick and choose who gets to speak. Usually, private investors, media, and anyone from a company that has generated bad press do not get called on. So what can we do to weasel our way to the front of the question queue?

    Well, if SCO has set up their call intelligently, nothing. The access code, 141144, might be the public access code, with a different code (or even a different phone number) given to people who can be trusted to ask "good" questions. But if everyone is coming in on the same number, then we have a chance.

    You'll know you have a shot at a question if, instead of being joined to the call immediately after entering your access code, you instead talk to an operator. The operator will most likely ask you your name, your company's name, and maybe your phone number. If this happens, lie to them. Make up a name and phone number, and tell them that you are with an investment firm. Just pick something: CIBC World Markets, Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse First Boston, Goldman Sachs, anything like that will do. Bonus points if you pick a company that has invested in SCO. Write down your information so that you can remember it! The trick is to make yourself look like you'll ask a safe question, so that they'll look at you in the queue and say, "Hey, let's take that Eddie Smith from CSFB next..."

    If you do get called on for a question, remember:
    1) Be polite. "OMG Darl SUXXORZ!!!" will just generate a "There are no further questions at this time" from the operator.
    2) Ask a difficult question that Darl hasn't answered before. Let him hang himself, it'll sink in better with the investors that way.
    3) Keep going until they cut you off. They're not likely to let many more unfamiliar names ask questions after this.
    4) If anyone asks, you didn't get any of these ideas from Slashdot.

    Here's hoping for a great conference tomorrow!

  70. IP Confusion by The+Monster · · Score: 4, Insightful
    someone accidentally said "patent" instead of "copyright..."
    Given the way that SCO keeps changing its story
    It's about trade secrets.
    No, it's about copyrights.
    There are millions and millions of lines.
    Well, there's <errno.h>
    We won't sue end users.
    Yes we will.
    I can't fault anyone for confabulating patents and copyrights in decribing what their contention du jour (de l'heure?) is.
    --

    [100% ISO 646 Compliant]
    SVM, ERGO MONSTRO.

  71. SCO worried, Geeks happy.. by Yo+Grark · · Score: 2, Funny

    Here is a little lawsuit we wrote
    You might want to read it code for code
    SCO worried, Geeks happy..
    In every court we have some trouble
    When you got IBM on your back it's double
    SCO worried, Geeks happy........

    Ain't no way to take back what we said
    We slept in it, now we have to make our bed
    SCO worried, Geeks happy
    The land lord say our rent is late
    The irony is, he may have to litigate
    SCO worried, Geeks happy
    Look at me I'm unhappy
    SCO worried, Geeks happy
    The press got ahold of my phone number
    Nonstop pissed off people call me
    Makes Slashdot so, happy
    SCO worried, Geeks happy
    Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style
    Ain't got no code, makes you smile
    SCO worried, Geeks happy
    We doing nothing but worry
    Our stockholders faces all frown
    And that will bring our stock price down
    So don't worry, SCO's unhappy....

    There is this little company summons we wrote
    I hope you tear it apart code by code
    Like good little Slashdotters
    SCO worried, Geeks happy
    Listen to what I say
    In your life don't expect no trouble
    But when a company drives you to worry
    DDOS them on he double
    SCO worried, Geeks happy......
    Don't worry just do it, be happy
    Put a smile on your face
    Bring our website down like this
    Don't worry, we're almost bankrupt and this nonsense will pass
    SCO worried, Geeks happy
    SCO worried, Geeks happy

    Yo Grark

    --
    Canadian Bred with American Buttering
  72. Justice, delayed, but not stopped by Animats · · Score: 2, Informative
    If you haven't been following the aftermath of Enron and WorldCom, here's how that's finally unwinding.

    At Enron, Glisan was convicted and is in the pen. (He's inmate #20293-179 at FDC Houston.) Fastow has pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing, which comes after he has "cooperated". He's cooperating. Skilling, the former CEO, has been indicted. Ken Lay is still unindicted, but that may yet happen.

    At Worldcom, Sullivan just pled guilty, and Ebbers, the former CEO, has just been indicted.

    It takes a while. But there is some justice left. Let's wait and see what happens with SCO.

  73. I'm going to guess McDonalds by BeBoxer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    McDonalds is my guess. Someone else guessed AutoZone because they are also moving away from SCO Unix. But I think McDonalds will have better PR punch, so that's where I'm putting my money. I think it's also realistic to assume that they will also make the announcement during the "earnings" call itself so as to minimize the amount of time they have to spend discussing just how horrible their balance sheet was last quarter.

  74. Let's Dare Darl by dmaxwell · · Score: 4, Funny

    I am absolutely driven by people saying I can't do something.

    Remember that kid we all knew when we were growing up that would take any dare? It was fun at first but you had to watch what you said around him after a while. Who wanted to explain to the kid's mom that he dared him to jump in front of a train? Darl seems to be just that sort of easily manipulated hothead.

    Darl is no little kid. He's a rather nasty adult. He's already walked up to the biggest bully on the block and punched him in the nose. What else can we goad him into doing?

    I like another poster's suggestion.

    Hey Darl! We know you read Slashdot. So I'm going to make a dare with you. McDonalds is your largest customer. They even have a contractual relationship with you. And we all know what SCO says contracts are for. McDonalds has also been piloting Linux POS terminals in Germany at least. ..quite possibly with an eye to migrating from SCO's products. Darl, there is no way in hell you would win a suit against McDonalds. Their legal department would burn the SCO pimple right off of Utah's ass. Go ahead Darl. Sue McDonalds. I double dog dare you. You can't sue McDonalds and win.

  75. Wait, I think I'm confused by jonathanduty · · Score: 2, Interesting


    They also have said that these first two lawsuits will be against companies that hold SCO Unix licenses


    I'm confused So are they saying that they are going to start by prosecuting their own customers? How, in any form, is that smart??? Am I not understanding this remark??

    Seems to me if I was a SCO Unix customer, this would be evidence that I need to take my business somewhere else and fast.

  76. SCO's new trademark by Skapare · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Lawsuits Pending [tm]"

    --
    now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
  77. Who's up first? by linuxguy · · Score: 3, Informative

    I generally dont spend a lot of time reading parodies, but this one was good. I highly recommend it *after* watching the Darl interview video, posted on news.com front page today. Look for it on the right side of the page.

    Who's up first

    Higly entertaining content.

  78. The correct term... by The+Monster · · Score: 2, Informative
    Who really expected them to follow through?
    Someone over at Groklaw described this perfectly...
    VaporFUD
    Which, while theoretically redundant, captures the essence of what we're witnessing.
    --

    [100% ISO 646 Compliant]
    SVM, ERGO MONSTRO.

  79. " zzxc writes "In a surprise turn of events, ..." by gordguide · · Score: 2, Funny

    OK, I give.

    How do I feign surprise?

  80. Re:.. the aftermath.. by MyHair · · Score: 3, Funny

    Before??

    Why do you think so many Slashdotters are aware of the one-handed Dvorak keyboard layout?

  81. You just have to love SCO by Pan+T.+Hose · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have more and more emphaty for this company, because they turn out to be just like me...

    Boss, this new program I'm writing will have ten million innovative features!

    Did I say ten million? What I really meant was ten thousand, but they are really great!

    Those two hundred features I've been talking about are really awesome, you'll see when it's done!

    For example, take a look at this brilliant idea of mine! I have hundreds more!

    Ken Thompson? Of course! I didn't say that this particular idea was mine! I was only saying that my ideas are at least equally brilliant! It was only an example of innovative cutting edge idea! In the seventies? So you have to admit how innovative it must have been back then! Wow!

    I only need some time and money... To finish the whole thing, you know.

    It will be ready tomorrow, I promise!

    No, not today, I said tomorrow!

    Did I say it yesterday? No, I would have remembered that...

    It might be ready the day after tomorrow. I only need more time to prepare an announcement of the features it's going to have.

    Not yet, but Real Soon Now!

    So, as I've said, I just have to love SCO, because they are just like me. In fact they are just like most of us working here on Duke Nukem Forever. We are working forever...

    --
    Sincerely,
    Pan Tarhei Hosé, PhD.
    "Homo sum et cogito ergo odi profanum vulgus et libido."
  82. Did I read this right? by u-235-sentinel · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "They also have said that these first two lawsuits will be against companies that hold SCO Unix licenses"

    So if I read this correctly, if you purchased a SCO license then SCO can sue you? huh? Pardon my ignorance but wasn't the whole reason these guys purchased licenses was to be protected from lawsuit?

    Signed... really confused SCO hater.

    --
    Has Comcast disconnected your Internet account? Same here. You can read about it at http://comcastissue.blogspot.com
  83. SCO has narrowed down its list of possible targets by fanatic · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actually, they will wait 10 days, then sue 1024 users.

    --
    "that's not encryption - it's a new perl script that I'm working on..." - from some Matrix parody
  84. Listen to the conference call online by SoLO · · Score: 4, Informative

    You can listen to the call online here, once it starts:

    http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/3/39693.html

  85. Shit, I can't take part in phone conference by Knuckles · · Score: 4, Funny

    When I open the link, Epiphany pops up a Window telling me

    You should only accept the security information if you trust "www.thescogroup.com" and "www.sco.com".

    --
    "When I first heard Daydream Nation it quite frankly scared the living shit out of me." -- Matthew Stearns
  86. Convenience in lawsuits. by rice_burners_suck · · Score: 2, Funny
    They also have said that these first two lawsuits will be against companies that hold SCO Unix licenses.

    It must be a new trend for companies to sue their customers. Perhaps in fifty years, someone will look at this from an historical point of view...

    The organization which invented the strategy of suing its own customers was the RIAA. Some time later, SCO began to sue its customers. This innovative business strategy grew increasingly popular through the first decade of the 2000's. Today, nearly all organizations sue their customers, and increasingly, customers demand to be sued upon completion of each transaction. Photograph 1.9 shows customers swiping their "So Sue Me!" cards at the checkstand of their local grocery store.

    By 2015, the volume of lawsuits climbed to hundreds of millions occuring every hour. To handle this load efficiently, the U.S. government shut down court houses, where cases were tried before a human judge, and the plaintiff and defendant had to make an appearance, either personally or through a human attorney, in a physical courthouse. Cases could take days, weeks, or many months to resolve, depending on their complexity. Today, lawsuits are carried out by computer, where software programs carry out the legal motions of each party, and the results are decided automatically by a computer program. Photograph 1.10 shows a government data center. At this center, cases which could have taken weeks under the old system are opened and closed within a few microseconds.

    Payment of damages has also become convenient with the advancement of technology. Before, the winning party of a lawsuit had to expend additional time and effort in enforcing a judgment. Today, however, damages are automatically debited to the losing party's bank account upon completion of the trial. If the defendant is unable to pay, all property owned by that defendant is immediately seized by the government. Computer programs automatically lock defendants out of their cars, houses, or other properties they may own. All of this occurs quickly and conveniently, without the intervention of either plaintiff or defendant.

    Microsoft. Where do you want to go today?

    All properties are the property of their respective owners.

    The above document is an excerpt from a book not yet published, brought to you compliments of time travel.
  87. The Mouse That Roared by rixstep · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ... In Lindon, Utah.

    It's incredible. I mean, there is no way, I repeat, no way, these guys can be expected to be taken seriously. Without serious (M)$ backing them, how can they go on?

    1. Re:The Mouse That Roared by cavac · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's incredible. I mean, there is no way, I repeat, no way, these guys can be expected to be taken seriously. Without serious (M)$ backing them, how can they go on?

      The more SCO goes on with this load of crap, the less i believe that Microsoft is responsible for all this. I mean, yes, Microsoft is selling Vaporware too, but at least they know how to really make money out of it and they handle better in court. And, oh yes, they do have a product they can base their business on...

      --
      Look, this thing is totally safe! Built it myself, you know. You just press that button like this and then turn that lev
  88. Advice from a lawyer:Buy a bundle from SuSE/Novel by Uzull · · Score: 4, Informative

    Hi, we have been in the discussion with being a high profile candidate for SCO (advertising our Linux Support for our customer's solutions)... Our Lawyer said simply : Buy a set of Linux CD Boxes and Support from SuSE, now Novell! The older, the better!
    If SCO or their Lawyers show, up show them that you are using this system, and friendly point towards the case between Novell and SCO, and that once the issues have been resolved between those 2 parties, you would be willing to comply with whatever the outcome is.

  89. Not unheard off by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Bioware released neverwinter nights for linux. Well kinda off. Their license with their windows installer supplier forbids them from using other installer software. Meaning someone else had to write an installer script. Not to difficult for the linux community but still prove that idiotic contracts keep getting signed.

    Granted this was using two different products at the same time but close enough.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  90. I agree, but the other one... by glassesmonkey · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It seems very likely, for AutoZone to maintain their same functioning infrastructure, they re-used some SCO interface or something that is considered an IP contract violations. (reasons to never sign anything in conjunction with SCO)

    The other company has to be something approved by Microsoft, and presumably serving Microsoft's plan for world domination. It would also have to be another knock against Open Source, and a SCO contract/license holder.

    Maybe this is all a big orchestrated move by EV1 & SCO to "sue" EV1 over linux usage, and then EV1 moves all linux servers over to SCO-approved binaries and SCO drops the lawsuits. (Why the hell else would EV1 be the first company to come out of the closet publicly regarding giving SCO extortion $$)

  91. That's why you need... by ksp · · Score: 3, Funny

    Open Sauce!

    Thank you, I'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip your waiter.

    --
    What is the sound of one hand clapping?
    cat /dev/null > /dev/audio
  92. Sweet Buttery Jesus by 0x0d0a · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sweet buttery Jesus, man. You claim you're a teleconference operator, but you sound like a guerilla political activist. That is an awfully effective-sounding idea.

  93. The $64,000 Question... by Aluminum+Tuesday · · Score: 3, Funny



    "SCO: Who Do You Want To Sue Today?"

  94. Tomorrow's news today! by Mixel · · Score: 2, Funny

    In a surprise move Thursday, SCO said aain that it needs yet more time to prepare an announcement of who they are going to sue.

    They also have said that these first FIVE lawsuits will be against companies that hold SCO Unix licenses.

  95. Re:Confabulation by valisk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Well... Dictionary.com has the following for confabulate:

    #1 To talk casually; chat.

    #2 Psychology. To fill in gaps in one's memory with fabrications that one believes to be facts.

    I'd say number 2 is without a doubt the correct use for the word. Also Sco can be realistically refered to by the euphemism number two

    --

    Economic Left/Right: -0.62
    Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.69
  96. Darl's new idiotic claim by choconutdancer · · Score: 2, Informative

    from the msgboard at
    http://finance.yahoo.com/q/mb?s=SCOX

    "In the news.com video Darl makes an utterly rediculous claim about GPL, claiming that if drug companies come up with a new formula for a drug on a linux machine they would have to license the formula under the GPL."

    and this:

    Anyone who has an interest in this case should watch this video.

    The interviewer is well prepared and asks the hard questions. He makes Darl look like a bit of a clown.

    He brings up the hard stuff.

    Darl claims :
    - they own unix
    - that the contract covers copyright xfer & deriviative works
    - lawsuits, wont name company, but the company does not know.
    - seems to have a 'green eye' attitude to Redhats success.
    - says that SCO unix is the same as linux (ROFL LMAO)
    - continues to claim that the license is customer driven (yeah right)
    - mentions mydoom has connections to organisations that are funded by IBM ??? Groklaw is funded by IBM ??? Interviewer points out that SCO is basically funded by MSFT.
    - Darl brings up Eldred/Ashcroft and private ownership and profit motive. (what about Redhats profits Darl?).
    - Darl talks about GPL, mentions that GPL should == BSD. (Yeah so you can steal my work you thieving scumbucket).
    - Darl talks about Open source == terrorism because of source access. Interviewer brings up Usenix letter nixing this idea.
    - Darl confirms the NSA is NOT the target :-).
    - Darl agress they TOOK OUT trade secrets. Introduced copyrights in IBM case.
    - tomorrows lawsuit IS copyright related.

    Intervierwer mentions:
    - that sun & msft are making the big payments and alludes that MSFT is the puppetmaster, but does it in a way that its 'not possible' :-).
    - asks why should people pay when SCO themselves dont know if they own the system.
    - asks if I license now, do I get a special deal (Darl dodges)
    - mentions Linus's rat comment, Darls IBM puppetmaster comments, but mentions that IBM is quite whereas SCO carries on.
    - letter to congress. quotes from it. Darl goes on FSF/GPL rant.
    - interviewer goes onto GPL. Darl talks about the cisco case, but without details.
    - asks what it takes to get SCO respected. DM mentions Maccas, I responds thats a legacy from old SCO. Darl cries about Linux stealing his lunch (boo friggerty hoo - adapt or die).
    - mentions that SCO blew services.

    Darl comes across as personable, but clueless. The interviewer was super sharp, steering the interview the way he wanted it. However he WAS fair, giving Darl the chance to speak, and came across as willing to listen ,but a little sceptical.

  97. Well SCO have sued AutoZone by BJury · · Score: 2, Informative

    Hot of the news feed! SCO Files Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against AutoZone

    Lawsuit Alleges Copyright Act Violations for Infringing Uses of SCO's

    Copyright Protected UNIX System V Technology

    LAS VEGAS, March 3 The SCO Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOX), the owner of the UNIX(R) operating system and a leading provider of UNIX-based solutions, today announced it has filed suit against AutoZone, Inc., for its alleged violations of SCO's UNIX copyrights through its use of Linux.
    SCO's lawsuit alleges the following:
    * AutoZone violated SCO's UNIX copyrights by running versions of the Linux operating system that contain code, structure, sequence and/or organization from SCO's proprietary UNIX System V code in violation of SCO's copyrights.

    The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Nevada, requests injunctive relief against AutoZone's further use or copying of any part of SCO's copyrighted materials and also requests damages as a result of AutoZone's infringement in an amount to be proven at trial.

  98. AutoZone not sued for *using* Linux by walterbyrd · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is important.

    Scox has stated that they have grounds to anybody for just *using* linux. For several months scox has been threatening to sue a company for using linux. Supposedly, this would prove scox has a case.

    But, in this case, the suit is about copying SCO owned libraries, it has nothing to do with using Linux. AutoZone has allegedly copied some SCO software onto an OS that happens to be Linux. AutoZone is *not* being sued for using Linux.

    This is classic scox-speak.