Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The SCO Boomerang and the Strength of Linux

Posted by timothy on from the kumbaya dept.

karvind writes "PJ of Groklaw has written an insightful article on benefits flowing from SCO's litigation: GPL stands up in court, the community bonded more tightly than ever, encouraged increased support for FOSS and last but not the least heightened awareness of the benefits of using GNU/Linux systems. Article is also on Yahoo and NewsFactor."

5 of 219 comments (clear)

  1. GPL by Lehk228 · · Score: 5, Informative

    The GPL was not "tested in court" the lawsuit was a contract dispute between SCO and IBM. Though i think it may have resulted in a few more PHB's hearing about linux and maybe being curious how it could save money to switch.

    --
    Snowden and Manning are heroes.
    1. Re:GPL by gvc · · Score: 4, Informative

      I cannot parse your sentence. I think you are saying that SCO v. IBM does not test the GPL. It certainly does. IBM's eighth counterclaim says:

      "124. SCO has infringed and is infringing IBM's copyrights by copying, modifying, sublicensing and/or distributing Linux products except as expressly provided under the GPL. SCO has taken copyrighted source code made available by IBM under the GPL, included that code in SCO's Linux products, and copied, modified, sublicensed and/or distributed those products other than as permitted under the GPL. SCO has no right -- and has never had any right - to copy, modify, sublicense and/or distribute the IBM copyrighted code except pursuant to the GPL."

    2. Re:GPL by Xformer · · Score: 4, Informative

      Clearly an unwinnable argument, that I clearly remember SCO trying to use earlier in this whole mess. Their lawyers tried to proclaim the GPL as invalid, and that argument was tossed pretty quickly.

      Therefore, the GPL was tested in court, and it stood rather well.

      --
      All I want is a kind word, a warm bed and unlimited power.
  2. Microsoft AD reference by nurb432 · · Score: 4, Informative

    No url, but here is the magazine and page #:

    March 7 edition of Information Week ( print version ) Pages 30 and 31.

    Entited "Adding up the costs of linux vs. windows? Be sure to add the intellectual property risks, too."

    I have seen it elsewhere too, but that is the only hard refrence i can remember.

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  3. Re:There's a reason it wasn't tested in court by mrhartwig · · Score: 5, Informative
    Actually, no. IBM makes more money off services than either HW or SW. I didn't find their 2005 annual report quickly, but the trend toward services (vs. HW) has been going for several years now; here are the 2004 revenue numbers:
    • Services: $42.6 B
    • HW: $28.2 B
    • SW: $14.3 B
    • Financing: $ 2.8 B
    • Other: $ 1.1 B

    Adding that up, it looks like services top HW & SW combined.

    I believe IBM's use of OSS to leverage their services business is quite relevant. I do suspect that the majority of their services don't have anything to do with OSS, but my (uninformed) opinion says the % is growing, and will continue to grow for a while.