Not to disagree with you Todd, but when you say "They get their billion..." are you referring to SCO or the lawyers (not that it makes much difference)? :)
Way I see it, there are a couple of questions. Q1) Was IBM entitled to use the code? A1) Yes, that is not part of the litigation. Q2) Was IBM entitled to release said code under the GPL? A2) Maybe, that's what the courts will now decide. Q3) What are the ramifications for Linux? A3) Could be as simple as said code must be removed - as with most things, there are several implementations that are submitted for the kernel, so a different one might need to be chosen. Q4) If IBM was not entitled to release said code, what are the damages? A4) That's the tricky part, since SCO Unix's value has increased along with the work IBM did with Linux, it's hard to argue damages (especially if the offending code is removed). Remember, most of the code is in the 2.5 Kernel which isn't officially released yet. Finally, Q5) What are the long term ramifications? A5) IBM may have to pay some money, Linux will continue to grow (although with some changed modules), SCO will continue to go down the tubes and most importantly, the lawyers will laugh all the way to the bank. If I were a shareholder of SCO I think I would counter-sue the CEO and board of directors for squandering resources on this lawsuit instead of looking at ways to repair the company. Or, if SCO is successful, and they receive billions, it might be time to liquidate the company so it goes to the shareholders instead of the few at the top. Just my two cents and remember, IANAL! Joeb On Fri, 7 Mar 2003 17:08:40 -0800 Todd Lyons <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Jack Coates wrote on Fri, Mar 07, 2003 at 08:55:41AM -0800 : > > > > SCO has decided to sue IBM for $US1 billion for alleged intellectual > > > property infringement regarding IBM's contributions to GNU/Linux. > > They are of course shooting themselves with this action... however, I > > Here's the point that I think all of you are not getting. They don't > *CARE* if they shoot themselves in the foot. They get their billion > dollars, get out of town, and live on the small island they just > bought. They are in it solely for the money, consumers be damned. > > Blue skies... Todd > - -- > | MandrakeSoft USA | Security is like an onion. It's made | > | http://www.mandrakesoft.com | made up of several layers and makes | > | http://www.mandrakelinux.com | you cry. --Howard Chu | > Mandrake Cooker Devel Version, Kernel 2.4.21-0.12mdk > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.2.1 (GNU/Linux) > > iD8DBQE+aUKYlp7v05cW2woRAjKqAKCWcD0Cpg0b0KhDs4K6cMhflT9IcACdHmI8 > twzHFdaScAGX3FQmXVw9YRI= > =4fJV > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > >
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
