User: cryptonomiciosis

Re:Awarded Copyright???

On: SCO Awarded UNIX Copyright Regs, McBride Interview

I went through the text of the SCO press release and despite all the legal jargon and promises not to hurt any body or entity already using Linux (if you pay) there was a line or two I found kind of interesting.

"While using pirated software is copyright infringement, our first choice in helping Linux customers is to give them an option that will not disrupt their IT infrastructures. We intend to provide them with choices to help them run Linux in a legal and fully-paid for way."

This almost seems like that time not too long ago when Congress tried to give themselves a retroactive raise.

It's like saying "We know that you started using this product before we got bent about it, but we want the money we're charging now for the product you started using several years ago." Apparently SCO didn't take issue with the use of Linux several years ago, but they see the bank it gets and they want to get their hands on a cut of that check. Frankly I think the copyright, as legally weak as it is, should only be used proactively and not retroactively. It's hard to say that 3 years ago Company X broke the law when the law wasn't codified. Of course I am no legal expert, and I guess somehow that is saying you were ignorant of the law (existant or not) which is inadmissable.

I have kind of kept an eye on this story, and I know this isn't the most informed reply, but I found that fact interesting.