[SLUG] Linuxtag: SCO must put up, or shut up

From: William Coulter (wrcoulter30@yahoo.com)
Date: Thu May 29 2003 - 11:01:20 EDT


I thought that I would pass this on as well.
William

> http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2135317,00.html
>
>
> Linuxtag: SCO must put up, or shut up
>
> Reuters
>
> A German software group on Wednesday threatened to take US software firm
> SCO Group to court if it did not withdraw from a worldwide attack on
> Linux, the free computer operating system.
>
> Linuxtag, a German Linux lobbying association, said it may seek a German
> court order against SCO this week because of threats made against 1,500 of
> the world's most important Linux supporters, including IBM.
>
> Linux is considered as the only big rival to Microsoft's Windows and can
> be found on 15 percent of all computer servers sold in Western Europe. The
> German government is installing Linux throughout certain ministries.
>
> Hundreds of companies distribute the software, charging little or nothing
> for the core software, but taking fees on modifications, services and
> maintenance.
>
> Companies and governments like Linux, written by Linus Torvalds and
> further developed on the web with the help of thousands of volunteer
> programmers, because it is a stable software and not controlled by just
> one company.
>
> But its future as an open system came under threat two months ago when SCO
> claimed Linux had mixed in some of SCO's proprietary software.
>
> Companies using Linux could be liable to pay license fees to SCO for every
> computer that runs on Linux, SCO said.
>
> Germany's Linuxtag told SCO to provide proof for its claims by 30 May or
> face court action in Germany.
>
> "SCO is massively unsettling our members and the companies that are
> potential exhibitors at the fair with those claims," said Michael
> Kleinhenz, a spokesman for Linuxtag, which holds a fair under the same
> name.
>
> "If they don't stop that, or present proof for the intellectual property
> rights they are claiming, we are going to apply for a preliminary
> injunction at the court on Friday," Kleinhenze added.
>
> Weak spot for linux
> SCO's German unit said it had received Linuxtag's motion and would discuss
> with its U.S. parent whether to present proof for the claim before its
> case against IBM, one of the biggest Linux promoters, comes to court.
>
> "We have this special situation here in Germany with a high affinity for
> Linux, and a very well-organised Linux community," said Hans Bayer, the
> head of SCO's German unit. "But I can't go on my own with presenting the
> proof."
>
> Alongside its copyright court battle with IBM, SCO also notified 1,500 of
> the world's largest corporations in May that their use of Linux may be in
> violation of its rights.
>
> Some of the largest German companies have been sent the letter as well,
> including electronics giant Siemens, the German railway system and
> carmaker Volkswagen, said SCO's Bayer.
>
> Linuxtag's Kleinhenz said SCO, a former Linux firm previously known as
> Caldera Systems, was engaging in unfair competition against Linux firms
> and programmers.

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM).
http://calendar.yahoo.com



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.3 : Fri Aug 01 2014 - 20:26:55 EDT