SCO ready to clean out Linux users for $1399 per CPU (Register) [LWN.net]

SCO ready to clean out Linux users for $1399 per CPU (Register)

Posted Aug 6, 2003 2:04 UTC (Wed) by dbhost (guest, #3461)
In reply to: SCO ready to clean out Linux users for $1399 per CPU (Register) by piman
Parent article: SCO ready to clean out Linux users for $1399 per CPU (Register)

SCO has refused to show where they have any legitimate claim to any Intellectual property in Linux. They continue to distribute the Linux kernel with the GPL and all code as far as I have been able to ascertain intact and unmolested by removal of any SCO proprietary code. And now they want to charge me to use something they don't even own? Imagine the following call coming in to your local police station. (Redneck emphasis added to illustrate the absurdity of the situation).

Dispatcher. "911 what is your emergency"
McBumpkin "Billy Joe just broke into mah house an' stole stuff".
Dispatcher "Sir, could you tell me what stuff you claim Billy Joe took from you?"
McBumpkin "Ain't gonna do that. Then he'd give it back. I wan' that sonofab*tch shot now!"
Dispatcher "Sir, we can't just go out and shoot people. Now can you please tell me what exactly was stolen?"
McBumpkin "Ah already tol' you once! I ain't gonna do that. Then he'd give it back!"
Dispatcher "Ooookay. Sir. Can you prove that you ever owned whatever it was that you say was stolen?".
McBumpkin "Aw shur ah kin. Jim Bob here rote me a receet fer some stuff a while ago."
Dispatcher "So, what you are saying is that Jim Bob sold you some stuff, and that Billy Joe took all of that stuff from you without your permission?"
McBumpkin "Nah. Billy Joe took some tiny pieces of the stuff".
Dispatcher "Sir, what exactly should I tell the officer to look for when I send him out to talk to Billy Joe?"
McBumpkin "Is you stoopid er whut? Ah already tol' you, I ain't sayin
!"

(Dispatcher dimisses caller and gets on the radio to the patrol officer"

Dispatcher "All units be on the lookout for a drunk bumpkin. Claims to have been robbed of nefarious property he refuses to identify, and wants former friend, Billy Joe dead. Looks like McBumpkin lost another competition."

At best these guys are simpletons bumbling forward under the advice of a slimeball lawyer. I doubt it. I believe this is nothing short of Extortion and Racketeering.

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SCO ready to clean out Linux users for $1399 per CPU (Register)

Posted Aug 6, 2003 9:25 UTC (Wed) by djabsolut (guest, #12799) [Link]

:-) exactly

What really puzzles me is why would any company, that uses Linux, be legally inclined to inform SCO on exactly how many Linux machines they use? SCO can do a grand total of squat until its IP infringement allegations are actually proven it a court of law (late 2005 at the earliest if we look only at the SCOvsIBM case). In other words, this licensing hoopla is yet another fine piece of FUD that will only catch the uninformed.

SCO ready to clean out Linux users for $1399 per CPU (Register)

Posted Aug 6, 2003 18:13 UTC (Wed) by TheOneKEA (subscriber, #615) [Link]

HAHAHA!!!!

I think that illustrates the absurdity of SCO's actions quite accurately :)

Somehow I believe that even if some people do pay just to keep SCO from falming them, they'll only pay for machines that people can identify remotely as being Linux-based. I'm sure the companies won't pay for machines that no one can see ;)

Maybe NOW someone willwake up and nip SCO in the bud; I don't see how this could possibly not be considered extortion (IANAL).

SCO ready to clean out Linux users for $1399 per CPU (Register)

Posted Aug 6, 2003 20:32 UTC (Wed) by alexs (guest, #13637) [Link]

*smile* nice contribution.