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DaimlerChrysler Looks for Dismissal of SCO Suit

Ian Atkins writes "DaimlerChrysler has told SCO where it can stick its lawsuit. In a filing in Michigan, the car company has said not only does it not have to give SCO the information it asked for, but that it hasn't used the software SCO claims rights over - for seven years. It has asked the judge to throw the whole thing out of court. Another bad for SCO and its MS-backed Linux crusade it would seem. Full details on Techworld here." Reader Eggplant62 notes that Groklaw is also covering the story, and noting that SCO has dropped their claim that the GPL is unconstitutional.

57 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Lets not post every legal filing by stratjakt · · Score: 2, Insightful

    by everyone involved in every one of SCOs cases. They really aren't newsworthy.

    Judges orders, warrants, and decisions from the bench are worth noting. But legal filings are just the gears of the bloated legal system in action.

    The first thing any lawyer does in almost any case is file for dismissal on some obscure precedent.

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    1. Re:Lets not post every legal filing by Progman3K · · Score: 5, Insightful

      >The first thing any lawyer does in almost any case is file for dismissal on some obscure precedent.

      Not having used SCO Unix for seven years isn't really an obscure point, is it?

      --
      I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
    2. Re:Lets not post every legal filing by wookyhoo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Oh c'mon, it is news, and for those of us who have a big stake in our beloved Operating System, it's always nice to see further holes being smashed into SCO's ridiculous claims.

      And this one in particular... to have SCO get rid of their patent claims... I'm waiting on a new letter to congress rescinding their previous outrageous unconstitutional hand-waving. I'm not going to hold my breath though ;)

    3. Re:Lets not post every legal filing by stratjakt · · Score: 2, Funny

      So says a lawyer.

      Next article up: SCOs lawyers file a motion that Daimlers lawyers are full of shit and they use SCO IP wrongly every day.

      Seriously, you think it's that easy? What if you were on trial for stealing a DVD player (or whatver), do you think you can just say to the judge "I havent even watched a movie for 7 years so I dont even have a dvd player"?

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    4. Re:Lets not post every legal filing by dreamchaser · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You see, they *are* being fought by the rules. You just happen to not like them. The legal system has indeed become ponderous, but things are playing out in a way that is to be expected.

    5. Re:Lets not post every legal filing by Progman3K · · Score: 2, Insightful

      >they *are* being fought by the rules.

      Yes, but obviously not in the spirit which the system of laws was intended.

      It's EXACTLY that kind technical hair-splitting that is cheapening humanity in general; no one wants to play fair.

      And there are probably slimy counter-counter-tactics that each party will resort to before this is over, but in the end there won't be any true accountability.

      You're right, I *don't* like it.

      --
      I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
    6. Re:Lets not post every legal filing by Dr.+Evil · · Score: 4, Funny

      Some legal guy will probably blither that it's about burden of proof. At least in criminal matters.

      Police prosecutor: "...the accused was seen walking out of a Best Buy with a DVD player. He was confronted by security, whereupon he said 'I am not the man you're looking for. There is no DVD player. Move along'. Security inexplicably let him go."

      Accused: "I havent even watched a movie for 7 years so I dont even have a dvd player. I am not the man you're looking for. There is no DVD player."

    7. Re:Lets not post every legal filing by B'Trey · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Slashdot's core readership is significantly biased towards Linux use. We have a strong interest in the case. If you don't, another news site might be more in line with your interests. It's not like there aren't a great many to choose from.

      --

      "The legitimate powers of government extend only to such acts as are injurious to others." Thomas Jefferson.

    8. Re:Lets not post every legal filing by Progman3K · · Score: 2, Interesting

      To be fair, I made a typo in my orginal post - the article says Daimler-Chrysler hasn't used Linux for seven years.

      Same difference though.

      On an interesting aside, *I* HAVE used SCO Unix (back in '92, I believe), and both times I did, it proved to foreshadow today's events:

      Being a COMPLETE newbie with anything *nix in those days, I was nonetheless given the task to shut down and restart a SCO Unix server.

      Being clueless (I admit), I fiddled around until I simply got fed-up and pressed the reset button on the PC.

      Now I KNOW that that is NO WAY to go about things, but as I said, I was clueless.

      The computer never successfully booted again.
      The admin had to reformat and reinstall everything. I had somehow totally screwed the filesystem on the machine in a way the operating system could not recover.

      I was a Windows-person back then, and I remember thinking smarmily "What a crap OS, at least with Windows, that doesn't happen"

      The second time was when we had to install SCO Unix to use it as a test-development server for one of our products.

      The mouse we had for the computer was some generic type of mouse, and it WASN'T supported by SCO.

      Never fear, let's CALL SCO and ask if they can help us -

      "No problem sir, we'll support your make of mouse, $15K, please"

      Let's say that we found a different solution, and every time after that when we needed *nix, we DIDN'T choose SCO. SCO came to be considered by all the techies I knew as being expensive, and not being good quality. Let's hope there HASN'T been any of their code copied into Linux, right?

      So SCO has really underwhelmed me so far. I figure this current bit is more of the same.

      --
      I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
    9. Re:Lets not post every legal filing by killjoe · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Anybody who has followed the brain numbing briefs files over and over again in this case realizes by now that the american legal system is a joke.

      I have never been interested in the law before before this case and I have done my best to keep up to date by reading groklaw and let me tell you no human should be a witness to such absolute and utter stupidity.

      Motion after motion of silly documents, delay after delay. How long has the SCO case been going on? The judge isn't even close to making a decision yet. All the point-counter point motions are not done yet. It will take five years at this pace for the judge to even start the trial.

      Disgusting.

      --
      evil is as evil does
    10. Re:Lets not post every legal filing by Progman3K · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I hear you.

      But you know, there has been a small positive side in this for you; you've obviously developed your understanding of law and legal proceedings.

      I know it's a sort of sad-education, but what can I say, you'll have to distill the good that you can out of it.

      Rock on, killjoe.

      --
      I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
    11. Re:Lets not post every legal filing by Thavius · · Score: 2, Interesting

      No no, they still use SCO unix in some ways. I can walk in the back room and kick a box running SCO if I wanted to, as I'm at a Chrysler dealership. Dealers used a SCO box attached to a sattelite dish to do factory communications. They're in the process of removing those boxes, yay, but they have used SCO in the past 7 years.

    12. Re:Lets not post every legal filing by Syrrh · · Score: 2, Funny

      I propose we take this literally.

      Boies: "Objection, you ho--"
      Judge: (rolls up sleeves) "All right, I've had enough out of you. C'mere, bitch." *thwack!*

  2. drop their claim? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How can they make claims and drop them like that? No consequences??

    There are corps that weren't choosing linux or delaying programs because of this .. there were real losses. It's just wrong that you can make risk free arbitrary claims and accusations as scare and/or FUD to try to advance your agenda .. without worry of consequences.

    1. Re:drop their claim? by Maestro4k · · Score: 5, Insightful
      • How can they make claims and drop them like that? No consequences??

        There are corps that weren't choosing linux or delaying programs because of this .. there were real losses. It's just wrong that you can make risk free arbitrary claims and accusations as scare and/or FUD to try to advance your agenda .. without worry of consequences.

      Actually there can be consquences, and there still may be. DaimlerChrysler can turn around and sue SCO for the corporate equivalent of defamation of character, etc. Filing a lawsuit without merit is always risky because you can be counter-sued. Given SCO's actions in the past I doubt they'll sensably drop this and will probably force DC to counter-sue them to get rid of the bad (and false) press SCO is causing them.
    2. Re:drop their claim? by budgenator · · Score: 4, Informative

      DC has basicaly said "Your Honor tell them to go away, never come back and have them pay us for our lawyers' fees on the way out; because they have no case, know they have no case, and are just pretending that they do."

      --
      Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
    3. Re:drop their claim? by ktulu1115 · · Score: 2

      The American legal system is exactly like a couple of five year olds arguing.

      Thank you. At least someone else out there can see the judicial system for what is really is.
      This country is in need of a revolution. Or at least a rewriting of the Constitution. This bullshit legal stuff has got to go.

      Regardless, I think it's great that DC told SCO to basically go phuck themselves. I think a point would be made if every company SCO filed suit against did the same, even though their wishes might not be carried out.

      --
      # fuser -v /dev/attention | grep work
      #
  3. Re:Go Linux by ChrisBrown1 · · Score: 5, Informative

    No, DCX is saying that they haven't used SCO's OPENSERVER or UNIXWARE in that period of time. That ARE using LINUX.

  4. Can we do without the editorial? by goldspider · · Score: 3, Insightful
    "Another bad for SCO and its MS-backed Linux crusade it would seem."

    Exactly what does that add to this story?

    --
    "Ask not what your country can do for you." --John F. Kennedy
    1. Re:Can we do without the editorial? by Romeozulu · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yeah, it would be nice if stuff like this could stay off the main page. I know this sound silly, but it does hurt /. credibility.

      Hey, a pig just flew by my office window!!!

    2. Re:Can we do without the editorial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Exactly what does that add to this story?

      Eleven words and two acronyms

    3. Re:Can we do without the editorial? by avi33 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Don't want it on the main page? That's what your homepage preferences are for.

      I don't why everyone gets their panties in a bunch of a few editorializing words in postings. You want supposedly straight facts and not much else? Try news.google.com.

      The whole notion of a community discussion site is built on opinions, to muzzle the opinions of the poster is asinine. Unlike a journalist, a story poster has no professional responsibility to maintain objectivity.

    4. Re:Can we do without the editorial? by Flashpot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      In a word, No!. Slashdot is all about editorial. That's what makes it so fun.

      --
      That which does not kill her only prolongs my agony.
  5. Umm wake up by Kjella · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wow, another major victory for Linux. A Fortune 500 company (of German origin, for God's sake) admits it didn't care to adopt Linux and was Unix/Microsoft shop all the way and always will be.

    DaimlerChrysler was being sued using their Unix licence. So they ditched Unix and went Linux/Microsoft long ago. Yes, I know. I've been trolled. I lost.

    Kjella

    --
    Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
  6. New reality show by nizo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Tune in every Tuesday and watch Darl as he tries to survive in the courts. Next season don't miss the "Darl Survivor II" premier episode where he gets strip searched prior to entering prison. Soon after he meets his new roomate Bubba, who introduces himself and then says, "I like your butt Darly boy".

    1. Re:New reality show by fritz1968 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Soon after he meets his new roomate Bubba...


      No, his new roommate is not named Bubba. His name is Ben Dover. I think Bubba is his nick name.

      --
      It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
    2. Re:New reality show by Prior+Restraint · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, I'm pretty sure it's Darl who will be playing the role of Ben Dover.

  7. Your Honor.... by Vengie · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Your honor, we have no idea who these poor schmendriks are. We might have used some of their software in the mid 90's before we got beaten with a clue stick, but that was when we were still using Reynolds & Reynolds green screens and we didn't know what the INTARWEB was. Please make them go away?"

    --
    When in doubt, parenthesize. At the very least it will let some poor schmuck bounce on the % key in vi. (Larry Wall)
  8. How can SCO keep this up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    With all this idiocy, it would seem SCO are doomed. How could any company maintain with this much erosion to their credibility?

    1. Re:How can SCO keep this up by Maestro4k · · Score: 4, Interesting
      • With all this idiocy, it would seem SCO are doomed. How could any company maintain with this much erosion to their credibility?
      As long as they can manipulate reports and spin things in a way that their stock price doesn't tank they can survive. IF this does get dismissed and the Autozone one as well it might impact their stock price. Actually this one might impact it because on the face of it, even to a lay person, having not used the software in question for 7 years makes the lawsuit look totally meritless.

      SCO has survived a year now with huge animosity towards them, just in the past few weeks are we seeing signs that their whole campaign may fall apart. If they pull something that gets investors to drive the stock price back up again, they'll continue to survive. Once it drops to what is it's true value (next to nothing IMHO) then that'll signify the beginning of the end of SCO.

  9. Yay by mkro · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Now, I don't know much about "The Market", but I know what this curve means. Hah.

    --
    I shall go and tell the indestructible man that someone plans to murder him.
    1. Re:Yay by Albanach · · Score: 2, Insightful

      This one is actually more interesting. SCO Are almost back to where they started from before they clained the owned the planet.

    2. Re:Yay by DoorFrame · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yeah, but if you look at this one you'll see that they're still better off than they were a year ago.

  10. because.. by MasTRE · · Score: 3, Funny

    We're the Mercedes-Benz of.. Mercedes-Benz, SCO bitches!

    --
    Must-not-watch TV!
  11. Text version of DaimlerChrysler's response by pumpknhd · · Score: 5, Informative

    Groklaw has posted a text version of DaimlerChrysler's response to SCO's complaint.

    1. Re:Text version of DaimlerChrysler's response by Bombcar · · Score: 2, Funny
      Gotta love some of the lawyer talk:


      DCC admits that UNIX is a computer software operating system.
      DCC admits that it is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in the County of Oakland, State of Michigan.


      I think I'll even admit that UNIX is a computer software OS. :)
  12. Oh really now? by WwWonka · · Score: 4, Funny

    DaimlerChrysler has told SCO where it can stick its lawsuit.

    Truly now is that the way they did it?

    More than likely it was:

    Dear Sir or Madaam,
    Put forth hereth we knowth thus blah blah blah


    Now to tell SCO where to stick it would be more like:

    Listen up you stupid idiots,
    We have no idea what the fuck you are talking about so piss off and crawl back into your hole and die.

    With love,
    DaimlerChrysler

    1. Re:Oh really now? by Our+Man+In+Redmond · · Score: 2, Funny

      Once the Babelfish people get that Lawyerese-to-English translator working you'll see that this is exactly what they did. Lawyers just take longer to say things like this because they get paid, very handsomely, by the word.

      --
      Someone you trust is one of us.
  13. The REAL news in the techworld article... by aelbric · · Score: 3, Funny

    Look at the bottom. The last sentance reads "SCO declined to comment"

    I never thought Daryl would shut up.

    --
    nos laetus epulor qui would domito nos
  14. Disable their vehicles by jtownatpunk.net · · Score: 3, Funny

    Does DaimlerChrysler have some sort of OnStar system in their cars? If so, they should remotely disable all vehicles registered to SCO execs.

  15. New SCOX low for the year today by Animats · · Score: 5, Interesting
    SCOX hit a new low for 2004 today.

    That big bump in March seems to have been SCO's announced stock buyback. So they blew a big chunk of their remaining cash, and the stock went back down anyway.

    It doesn't get much worse than this:

    • Product sales are zilch.
    • Intellectual property sales are zilch.
    • Their VCs want their money back.
    • They're in litigation with four different Fortune 1000 companies. And not doing well.
    • Their CEO is widely viewed as an annoying loudmouth.
    • The stock is in a screaming dive.
    • They're widely hated.
    The only upside is that there are no criminal charges or securities-fraud litigation. Yet. That may come, if insiders enriched themselves during the stock runup.
  16. Trial By Stone by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny

    Trial by Sharon Stone - last person who doesn't faint in interrogation sequence wins

    Trial by Bludstone - Gain mod points by posting obscure Dark Crystal references

    Trial by Flintstone - Endurance rally race in which you drive a 600 lbs car cross country with your own two feet

    Trial by Oliver Stone - conducted by the CIA

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  17. SCO + RIAA by superpulpsicle · · Score: 4, Funny

    If SCO and RIAA got together, they'd have the highest expense of lawyers while offering no service or product to the public.

    I thought M$ had good lawyers, man these two companies can sue any one of any status.

  18. Methinks they're running out of gas by dacarr · · Score: 2, Interesting

    In watching the whole debacle going on with SCO, it concerns me that, in the end, beating SCO back down with the brickbat of the law has been little more than an uninteresting problem. Enough resource applied to the problem and it just kind of goes away.

    --
    This sig no verb.
  19. why doesn't SCO just die ... by drizst+'n+drat · · Score: 4, Informative

    SCO's stock has been taking a pounding lately and as of now (1352 EST is under $6.50 a share. If you follow the trend .. they are slowly but surely crashing. Now the question is going to be ... when?

  20. Re:SCO does have some legit claims by RedK · · Score: 5, Informative

    And this could be one of them...

    Read the daimler filing, this is surely not one of them. This suit is about Daimler/Chrysler failure to comply to the audit letter sent to Unix licenses at the end of 2003. Basically, what they tell SCO is :

    We already answered but anyway, you didn't have a right to ask in the first place, and if you did, as per your contract with Novell, they waived your right to an answer. Also, we haven't used your systems in a while, and you have failed to indicated clearly how we're infriging your IP and you didn't try to mitigate or give us a chance to cure. So screw off and come back when you've got something to sue us over.

    And mostly, they're right, and you would know this if you followed groklaw's excellent coverage.

    --
    "Not to mention all the idiots who use words like boxen."
    Anonymous Coward on Monday August 04, @06:49PM
  21. "Unclean Hands" by Embedded+Geek · · Score: 5, Informative
    I read the Groklaw summary and stumbled across the term "Unclean Hands" in the list of defenses that DaimlerChrysler has put forth.

    Man, I knew some judges were sticklers about proper decorum in the courtroom, defendants wearing suits, etc. but this is pretty extreme, don't you think?

    --

    "Prepare for the worst - hope for the best."

  22. In Pictorial Format by SmackCrackandPot · · Score: 4, Funny

    I like the way many users have visualised the current state of affairs:

    Tactical Map

    SCO's current position

    Relationship with IBM

  23. News just in: by stienman · · Score: 5, Funny

    Previously we reported that SCO was scraping the bottom of the barrel. We must now print a retraction:

    It appears as though SCO is in fact not scraping the bottom of the barrel...any longer. They have broken through the bottom and are working themselves into a barrel sized pit. The barrel was located near an outhouse, and so now you can see where they are coming up with all this...stuff.

    -Adam

  24. Dismissed with Prejudice? by Embedded+Geek · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Groklaw had an interesting bit:

    The WHEREFORE clause asks that the complaint be dismissed with prejudice, and that the court award DaimlerChrysler costs and attorneys' fees. (emphasis added)

    IANAL, so I do not know if this is standard for dimissing with prejudice (heck, it might be the defintion of dismissing with prejudice, for all I know), but it seems like DaimlerChrysler isn't going to let them go without some consequences. It might not be a big dent compared to a defamation suit, but it's a start. Also, every drop of red that SCO shows in its annual reports tied to judgements going against them (as opposed to "cost of doing business" in launching the claims) looks worse for the stockholders.

    We can only hope those stockholders eventually see sense, since the executive team doesn't.

    --

    "Prepare for the worst - hope for the best."

    1. Re:Dismissed with Prejudice? by DavidTC · · Score: 5, Informative
      Dismissed with prejudice means 'You don't have a case, and cannot possibly ever have a case, so you can't even file again about this.'.

      Whereas dismissal without prejudice means 'They cannot prove the case, but they may, indeed, have one, once they get their act together and file in the right court or under the correct statue or whatever.'

      (Of course, you can appeal either of these.)

      Dismissal with prejudice is what judges do to people who sue the government for alien mind control.

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
  25. Why is it 'Pulling a SCO' by Sebby · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Why does everyone say that?

    The way I see it, it should be called 'Pulling a GraceNote' - ie steal from contributers and sue frivrously. It seems to me SCO learn a lesson from GraceNote...

    --

    AC comments get piped to /dev/null
  26. Boycott Daimler-Chrysler! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I am hereby calling for a boycott of this godless German corporation! How dare they attack the rights of an heroic American corporation like SCO?

  27. Re:SCO does have some legit claims by red+floyd · · Score: 4, Informative

    So screw off and come back when you've got something to sue us over.

    Actually, they filed for dismissal with prejudice, so they actually said something like:

    So screw off, and don't bother coming back.

    --
    The only reason we have the rights we have is that people just like us died to gain those rights. -- Cheerio Boy
  28. Darl Survivor III by swschrad · · Score: 2, Funny

    in this year's premiere episode, Darl is locked out of the prison library for filing ten frivolous lawsuits a day against individual farmers, seeking damages from all those who supplied rotten maggots in his gruel. "I require fresh maggots," he claims. other inmates on Block 27 promise Darl they can grow fresh maggots in his arms and legs....

    --
    if this is supposed to be a new economy, how come they still want my old fashioned money?
  29. Re:Hold on... by John+Starks · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When the non-government document relates to copyright. From article I, section 8:

    The Congress shall have power ... To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries

    Thus, GPL must agree with copyright law, which derives its power from the constituion. (Of course, they were really just trying to make people lose confidence in Free Software.)

  30. Press Release by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    The SCO Group to sell Pre-loaded Unix PCs

    LINDON, Utah, Apr 29, 2004/PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- The SCO Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOX), the owner of the UNIX® operating system and a leading provider of UNIX-based solutions, announced today that they are to begin selling PCs pre-loaded with SCO Unix.

    In light of this change to their core strategy they will also be changing their name from The SCO Group Inc ("SCO") to Santa Cruz Unix Machines ("SCUM").

    "We feel that our new name better reflects our business and core values," said Darl McBride, President and CEO, Santa Cruz Unix Machines, Inc. "As SCUM we feel we are sending the right message to consumers about the sort of company they are dealing with."

    All products will be re-named to fit with the new corporate image.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward looking statements related to SCUM's belief that the world is flat and that anyone with an IQ over 12 would ever want to do business with them again.

    About SCUM

    The SCUM Group (NASDAQ: SCOX) helps millions of customers in more than 82 countries to grow their businesses everyday. Headquartered in Lindon, Utah, SCUM has a worldwide network of more than 11,000 resellers and 4,000 developers. SCUM Global Services provides reliable localized support and services to partners and customers. For more information on SCUM products and services, visit http://www.sco.com.

    SCO, SCUM and the associated SCUM logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Santa Cruz Unix Machines, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group.

    SOURCE Santa Cruz Unix Machines, Inc.