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#title: SCO ./ Linux

#descr: In 2003 SCO, a company active in proprietary Unix and in GNU/Linux
distribution, suddenly started suing IBM and threatening other
companies with lawsuits for infringement of unspecified %(q:Unix IP)
and for breach of contracts related thereto.  SCO did not disclose
what %(q:IP) this was, but sent around letters demanding license fees
of >600 USD for each server that runs Linux.  IBM counter-attacked,
among others with charges of patent infringement by SCO.  Redhat and
some others also counter-attacked.  Microsoft, a former co-owner of
SCO, paid high license fees to SCO and supported SCO's FUD campaign in
other ways.  SCO joined Microsoft's campaign against the GNU GPL,
attributing all problems to this license, but still refusing to
disclose what %(q:IP) was being infringed.  Bill Gates meanwhile
commented that the GNU GPL was incompatible with patents, and that the
patent problem had created a new situation which would put any company
who uses Linux at risk.

#juh: Larry Rosen, legal delegate of Open Source Initiative, dissects the
claims of SCO

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