Practical Technology: SCO Linux/Unix Licensing Nonsense

“Recently, a story claimed that SCO would charge users $96 per
CPU for a so-called one-time System 5 for Linux software license to
protect their systems from SCO-enforced patent issues if they ante
up as soon as demand is made. The fee would go up to $149 per CPU
if SCO had to wait through a so-called 99-day ‘amnesty period’ for
its money. Users of SCO Linux would get a free System 5
license.

“The tabloid style story, based on unnamed sources, even said
that David Boies, of DOJ vs. Microsoft fame, had been hired by SCO
to represent the company. Clearly the writer had never bothered to
check with his firm, as Tina Gasperson, ace reporter for NewsForge,
did in her coverage of the story, ‘David Boies’ secretary was
adamant in her assertion that neither Boies nor any other attorney
at Boies, Schiller, and Flexner was currently performing duties as
‘IP advisor’ for SCO.’

“Underneath the fear, uncertainty, and doubt spread by the story
there was a kernel of truth. Darl McBride, SCO’s CEO, did create an
internal group in October ‘to formalize the licensing of our
intellectual property,’ according to SCO documents, because, ‘SCO
is concerned about violations of our software license copyrights.
SCO pays royalties on software, and we’re asking
companies/customers to do the same…'”

Complete
Story