SCO also owns C++ [LWN.net]

SCO also owns C++

Posted Jul 9, 2003 13:00 UTC (Wed) by walterbyrd (guest, #11620)
Parent article: SCO takes Linux case to Japan (News.com)

Originally got this from yahoo message board:

http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2877578,00.html

We get several dozen requests a month just to come in and see AIX
or HP-UX code base. And C++ programming languages, we own those,
have licensed them out multiple times, obviously. We have a lot of
royalties coming to us from C++. It was interesting to see the
depth of Caldera's intellectual capital.

</quote>

http://www.mozillaquest.com/Linux03/ScoSource-02_Story03.

html#C++_Issues

<quote>

C++ Issues

MozillaQuest Magazine: C++ appears to be one of the properties
that SCO acquired through Novell's acquisition of AT&T's UNIX
Systems Laboratories and subsequent purchase of Novell's UNIX
interests by SCO. At this time most Linux and/or GNU/Linux
distributions include C++ compilers and editors. Is this
something for which SCO currently charges? If so, just what
are the current arrangements? If not, will C++ licensing and
enforcement be added to SCO's licensing and enforcement program?

Blake Stowell: C++ is one of the properties that SCO owns today
and we frequently are approached by customers who wish to license
C++ from us and we do charge for that. Those arrangements are
done on a case-by-case basis with each customer and are not
disclosed publicly. C++ licensing is currently part of SCO's
SCOsource licensing program.

MozillaQuest Magazine: How about GNU C++? Does GNU C++ use
SCO IP? If so, could SCO license and/or charge for use of its
IP in GNU C++?

Blake Stowell: I honestly don't know.

MozillaQuest Magazine: Does the C++ that currently is included
in most if not all Linux distributions contain SCO IP?

(a) If so, is that being done with or without SCO
permissions/licensing?

(b) If so, what impact/affect does this have on the ability
of people to freely distribute and use copies of those
Linux distributions? (Under GNU licensing, anyone may
make as many copies of a GNU/Linux distribution as they
please, freely distribute them for no charge and/or for
a charge, and use a GNU/Linux on as many computes as they
please -- at no charge. Etc.)

Blake Stowell: Again, I don't know. That's something we would
have to research.

</quote>

``Be afraid. Be very afraid.''

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SCO also owns C++

Posted Jul 9, 2003 15:23 UTC (Wed) by tjc (guest, #137) [Link]

C++ is one of the properties that SCO owns today and we frequently are approached by customers who wish to license C++ from us and we do charge for that. Those arrangements are done on a case-by-case basis with each customer and are not disclosed publicly. C++ licensing is currently part of SCO's SCOsource licensing program.

One would hope this is referring to SCO's implementation of C++. Either that, or this is just another instance of a SCO executive talking out of [deleted]. The second case seems more likely.

If this turns out to be true, I really don't see the point in having an ANSI/ISO standard for C++ (or any other language) if one has to purchase IP from SCO to legally implement a compiler. In this case I would be just as hesitant to use C++ as I am to use Java.

They better not mess with C!