[NTLUG:Discuss] SCO History article -- SCO v. IBM != SCO v. Linux IP

[Will Senn]

Bryan J. Smith wrote:

>>but their bungling of this case,
>>    
>>
>
>They case?  Or the PR / Linux licensing effort?
>That is, SCO v. IBM?  Or SCO v. Linux IP?
>
>SCO has _botched_ the PR and Linux licensing effort, badly.  Their
>"smokescreen" has failed.  People see right through it.  But has 0 to do
>with the case.  But still, some companies are worried about
>indemification.  So much so that I saw a project I was on shutdown as a
>result.
>
>NOw, the May 2003 filings are largely a joke, along with terminating
>IBM's perpetual license.  That could _hurt_ SCO's changes for positive
>results.  But the PR stuff is _separate_ from the case.
>
>  
>
Not gonna argue with you on these points, they're well made and likely 
dead accurate- sad to say that I fall into the - if it looks like a dog, 
barks like a dog, etc. crowd - SCO's lost it in my universe - they 
should lose - just coz.

>>the Autozone case
>>    
>>
>
>SCO v. IBM != Autozone v. IBM.
>  
>
More of that dog smell...

>  
>
>>and their  general approach to these and other issues have lost them
>>any shred of  credibility they may have had previously.
>>    
>>
>
>Yes, credibility in the PR / Linux licensing efforts.
>But those are _separate_ from the trial itself.
>
>  
>

woof, woof...

>Er, no.  Caldera bought SCO, then renamed itself as SCO.
>  
>

Oops, you are correct - I knew this, it simply slipped my conciousness 
when I wrote it. Still, the dog ain't stopped chaisin' it's tail yet.


>And SCO _still_ waited around for a good _18_months_ before shifting to
>their current attack of Linux.  I don't like SCO, especially _not_ after
>their January 2004 lobbying attack of Linux as "anti-IP" in Congress. 
>But IBM _did_ screw over Caldera-SCO.
>
>  
>
By now it should be clear to you that you should be glad that I'm not 
judging this case, huh?

>I'm very familiar with groklaw.  Groklaw, the FSF and other sites are
>dedicated to SCO v. Linux IP, because SCO's claims are rather pathetic.
>
>  
>
Well now, that's sort of true, but they track all related developments 
these days and the contract dispute is there as well.

>Understand the _differences_ between SCO v. IBM and SCO v. Linux IP.
>
>Otherwise if SCO wins on some counts against IBM, even if IBM wins some
>counterclaims as well, people will ass-u-me that SCO v. IBM = SCO v.
>Linux IP.
>
>  
>
There's no otherwise - the two are inextricably tied in the court, that 
is public opinion - when SCO wins a motion - I get flamebait emails from 
my Windows zealot buddies - even if it's as simple as a change of venue.

>I really tire of the Linux enthusiasts who have petitions to end the SCO
>v. IBM lawsuit.  It's _not_ a Linux lawsuit.  Linus and ESR came right
>out and said it after the March filing, and re-iterated it in May, but
>the IT media (and the non-developer Linux community) still did not
>listen.
>
>-- Bryan
>
>  
>
You are going to need a lot of sleep, then - cause anything remotely 
tied to the moniker SCO is going to reflect on Linux even if SCO 
petitions the local government to put up a new sign on the street corner 
there will be an association made to Linux in the press:
    SCO Wins Landslide Victory in Pursuit of Right to Exist- deals Linux 
heavy blow - Puts Anti Linux Slogan on Main Street...

>SIDE NOTE:  Although I don't think Linux should be called GNU/Linux, I think
>there is some merit to Linux to being referred as a "GNU system."  It would
>market against the whole "Linux is based on UNIX" mentality of the Linux
>non-familar.  LPI is introduce an exam/certification called "LinuxCore" that 
>tests these very same concepts about Linux -- in a hope to educate people
>on them.
>  
>

<troll>Are you looking to start a war - it's not GNU, it's Gnu's Not 
Unix and should Linux even be in the name?</troll>

Shucks, I'm serious though - SCO should apologize for the Linux IP 
nonsense and then proceed with suing IBM over the contracts, until such 
time, I stick with my emotionally charged opinion that they should not 
be allowed to win.

Thanks for the lively discourse by the way, your voice of reason in a 
sea of emotion is refreshing,

Will