[ Thanks to Mike D for
this link. ]
“Since March 9, 2003 there has been a great deal of discussion
about protection of intellectual property rights in Linux (an open
source operating system kernel). While a lawsuit over the contents
of one project should not dictate opinions of a whole range of
software, Linux has become the poster child of the open source
model of software development, and allegations about the
development of Linux will likely affect popular opinion about open
source software in general. There have been numerous responses to
the allegations of SCO as they attempt to gain support for their
lawsuit against IBM, most have been specific to Linux and many have
consisted primarily of commentary on the case in general.“This document will attempt to address the allegations that have
been made about intellectual property in open source software,
without limiting the scope of applicability to Linux. This is
difficult, though not impossible, as the majority of remarks made
have been vague and slanderous. In addition, a contrast will be
provided, where possible, with equivalent issues in proprietary and
closed source software. No attempt will be made to refute the basis
of the lawsuit filed by SCO, nor will the rationale of the
arguments presented by SCO be examined, since both of these points
have been discussed at length elsewhere…”