mprobst@probst.org: [uug] You are all infringers. (the latest from SCO)

[Michael Brailsford]

Sorry, I normally don't forward things, much less twice in one day, but
this curdled my blood.  The following is courtesy of the idiots at SCO.

----- Forwarded message from "Matthew J. Probst" <mprobst at probst.org> -----

To: BYU Unix Users Group <uug-list at phantom.byu.edu>
From: "Matthew J. Probst" <mprobst at probst.org>
Reply-To: BYU Unix Users Group <uug-list at uug.byu.edu>
List-Post: <mailto:uug-list at uug.byu.edu>
Subject: [uug] You are all infringers. (the latest from SCO)
Status: RO

All you people running Linux are infriging on SCO's intellectual property
rights.....  yes... not just the distributors but you, the end users:

http://www.sco.com/scosource/letter_to_linux_customers.html

snippets:
"Many Linux contributors were originally UNIX developers who had access to
UNIX source code distributed by AT&T and were subject to confidentiality
agreements, including confidentiality of the methods and concepts involved
in software design. We have evidence that portions of UNIX System V
software code have been copied into Linux and that additional other
portions of UNIX System V software code have been modified and copied into
Linux, seemingly for the purposes of obfuscating their original source."

"As a consequence of Linuxs unrestricted authoring process, it is not
surprising that Linux distributors do not warrant the legal integrity of
the Linux code provided to customers. Therefore legal liability that may
arise from the Linux development process may also rest with the end user."

"Similar to analogous efforts underway in the music industry, we are
prepared to take all actions necessary to stop the ongoing violation of
our intellectual property or other rights."

"SCOs actions may prove unpopular with those who wish to advance or
otherwise benefit from Linux as a free software system for use in
enterprise applications. However, our property and contract rights are
important and valuable; not only to us, but to every individual and every
company whose livelihood depends on the continued viability of
intellectual and intangible property rights in a digital age."

ohh wait... I just violated their intellectual property by copying
paragraphs from their web page...

I'll go turn myself in for the requisite lashings.

-matt

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----- End forwarded message -----

-- 
Michael
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