Microsoft and SCO against Linux?
Over the past few months, the SCO Group, developer of SCO Unix, has been trying to sue certain corporate Linux users, claiming that modules of SCO Unix have been used in the development of Open Source Linux programs. One of these users is IBM. So far, SCO's lawyers haven't been too successful.
This week, however, Microsoft announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with SCO.
"Many Linux fans and industry analysts see an ulterior motive. They don't believe Microsoft has any fear of running afoul of SCO's intellectual-property rights, thus it didn't really need to license Unix from SCO. They see the move as a way to cast doubt on Linux, which poses the greatest threat to Microsoft's hegemony. Linux is now No. 2 in the $50.9 billion market for server computers, with a 13.7% share to Microsoft's 59.9%. "This creates fear, uncertainty, and doubt about Linux licensing," says software analyst Rick G. Sherlund of Goldman, Sachs & Co..."
You can read the full story at:
http://linux.ittoolbox.com/news/dispnews.asp?i=93859
mairving posted this at 18:34 — 24th May 2003.
They have: 2,256 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
Yeah, I read that one today. Most are saying that MS did it to lend credence to SCO claims and help SCO get some others on board to help derail Linux. It has all been a money grab by SCO. They can't sell their product like they used to, so they resort to threatening lawsuits. The motivating factor behind it all is that they are looking for a buyer for their company. They tried to bully IBM into buying them but couldn't. Maybe IBM will buy them now, since they and RedHat have the most to use.
Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
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