“The Linux startups that Corel Corp. invested in under Michael
Cowpland, former chief executive, have seen their financing cut and
the turnover in employees at the software maker has left them with
no communication with the Ottawa-based company.”
“‘After next week, I won’t know anyone at Corel,’ Buck Fleming,
president and founder of LinuxForce, a privately held Boulder, Co.,
firm that specializes in Linux services, said yesterday. ‘But I
recognized some time ago that we had better row our own boat.’
Corel acquired a 33% stake in LinuxForce in December, 1999, with an
option to increase its interest in the company. Mr. Fleming is now
looking at ways to buy Corel’s share.”
“LinuxForce isn’t alone in its struggles in dealing with Corel.
Ottawa-based Newlix Corp. has been told it will no longer receive
any funding from Corel, which has an undisclosed amount of money
invested in the private company in exchange for a 30% share.”