An open letter to SCO [LWN.net]

An open letter to SCO

Posted Jun 12, 2003 14:20 UTC (Thu) by oloryn (guest, #7408)
Parent article: An open letter to SCO

It strikes me that SCO may not want the offending code taken out of Linux distributions. They want it left in so they can levy a charge on each Linux installation. Perhaps they'll only actually try to collect from large Linux-using organizations, but it would still represent a potential revenue stream. Giving the Linux community enough information to remove infringing code (if there is actually any; I wouldn't be a bit surprised if any common code actually comes from BSD) would threaten that supposed revenue stream. They're after increased revenues, not the reduction of infringing code.

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An open letter to SCO

Posted Jun 12, 2003 19:52 UTC (Thu) by brouhaha (subscriber, #1698) [Link]

What's really aggravating is the double standard they're trying to use.

If any proprietary SCO code has been included in the Linux kernel, it was obviously not done with the knowledge and consent of Linus, most of the kernel developers, and most of the Linux distributors. It is basically an unintentional mistake.

On the one hand, rather than just explaining the problem (in specifics) and allowing the kernel developers to remedy the mistake, they're suing for a billion dollars.

On the other hand, they shipped the code in their own Linux distribution, but claim it was a mistake and that they shouldn't have to honor the GPL terms.

Apparently they don't have to take responsibility for their own actions, and face the consequences thereof, but they expect everyone else to do so.

SCO doesn't want to rectify the mistake

Posted Jun 14, 2003 0:29 UTC (Sat) by giraffedata (subscriber, #1954) [Link]

Sounds like you didn't read the comment to which you are replying. The point is that SCO doesn't care whether there was any evil intention in this copying, doesn't want to punish anyone, and definitely doesn't want the copying stopped. SCO wants its legal share of the value that companies are deriving from use of the code in question.

The IBM case in particular is about a contract infringement. In a contract infringement case, there is no question of wrong or right or intent. SCO is simply entitled to be reimbursed by IBM for whatever damage it may have suffered because IBM failed to live up to that contract.