I don't know why no one is talking about this
but I do visit slashdot (everyday) and there have been several posts about a law-suit started by SCO against IBM (primarly) claiming that IBM added proprietary UNIX code -that it orginally licenced from SCO- into the linux kernel
SCO is claiming one billion dollar remedy from IBM for the damage it suffered from injecting that secret code into linux !!!
IBM rejected the claim/lawsuit and .....
I don't know much else, I haven't heard of a court date assigned to this law-suit !!!!!

What do ya guys think?
And why is this so unpopular outside slashdot?
this is so weird

The issue is too complicated. And I am waiting for someone to write `SCO vs. Linux for Dummies'

SCO as a company is failing.

SCO decide to piss off IBM, a major backer of linux.

They hope it will be cheaper for IBM to buy SCO than to go to court.

The basis of SCO's claims is, that IBM gave the kernel development team source code from SYS V UNIX, which is the only thing worth something which SCO has, and which IBM had licensed from them.

Of course, it is more likely that SCO borrowed code from linux than the other way around.

Anyway, SCO still shipped their own linux distro (Caldera) AFTER allegedly discovering this. Dumb.

Verdict: SCO is being stupid. The only people benefitting are SCO management, who have a lot of stock in the company; their stock price is finally rising, only slightly.

Microsoft bought a UNIX license from SCO recently, partially in an attempt to hit back at linux, and partially to help fund the lawsuit. Stupid move, since now IBM will trust MS even less as a partner. MS may be big, but IBM are BIG. Stupid move.

SCO claim they have outright examples where linux borrowed SCO UNIX code; for some reason, they have not shown anyone anything yet. Despite the fact they promised to show the code to an independent panel.

If we're lucky, this will go to court, become a case of the GPL, and win.

If we're unlucky, SCO will only die a miserable death.

Nothing to see hee, move on folks.

this is all over the news everywhere on the net not just the GNU/Linux oriented places.
however there is not much benefit in discussing it thats why it isn't under discussion anywhere except slashdot (where everything gets dicussed to death anyway).

go to news forge or linux weekly news or even search news.google.com and you'll get all the info and fud you need and more.

BTW SCO send notices to 1500 big GNU/Linux customers warning them that there may be legal liabilities if they continue using GNU/Linux.

Thanks MFA for the briefing. Aside from SCO. Microsoft is after us in any way possible huh ? Ok, Billy .. Lama ashoofak bass ! Grrr.

thank u MFA for the dummy thing :)

so if SCO win the battle the only harm will be done to IBM ?

what could be the other effects ?

A nice paper by ESR
http://www.opensource.org/sco-vs-ibm.html


Regards
Mohamed Eldesoky

Maybe deleting the post is better.

Thanks!

I believe it is good to post it here.

http://www.novell.com/news/press/archive/2003/05/pr03033.html

Bye bye SCO

Regards
Mohamed Eldesoky

hey, guys

just wonder what could make IBM the great gaint for HW and SW supplier to steal a kernel code from the failing OS SCO !

IBM have its own kernel development crew, for AIX at least, which is one of the best UNIX platform now

besides linux kernel is open source
this does not make sense at all

Excuse me AIX.
But AIX is a flavor of UNIX, and IBM got the (license/whatever) from UNIX owners.
SCO is not an OS, it is a company.

Regards
Mohamed Eldesoky

http://www.computerworld.com/softwaretopics/os/linux/story/0,10801,81709,00.html

http://news.com.com/2100-1016_3-1012947.html

SCO Group, the company that has warned major companies that using Linux could get them in legal trouble, has shut down its German Web site after a Linux advocacy group in the country obtained a restraining order.