Comments on: SCO targets federal supercomputer users

The company sends letters threatening two Energy Department facilities with legal action for using Linux.

Incorrect reporting

The SCO Group (TSG from now on) has not filed any lawsuits because of the use of Linux. The lawsuit agains Autozone is based on a claim that Autozone used SCO Unix libraries to port and run their software on Linux. The lawsuit agains Daimler-Chrysler is based on the claim that DC did not certify that they are not using SCO Unix code in Linux. Both companies are/were customers of TSG, and both lawsuits refer to existing contracts between them and TSG.

The bottom line is that only companies that have had contracts with TSG have been targeted with lawsuits. To claim that companies have been sued "because they use Linux" is misleading, and shows shoddy reporting.

Offensive content?

Now somebody from TSG should come and mark it as "Offensive content"? ;-)

[sally3745]

Fat but lawyers

The lawyers have nothing to do but sue somebody. I think it is about time for the rest of us poor people stand up and tell them to find a life and start doing some thing productive and help us all to develop systems that make this better for all people

Our law abiding enemies

"... has the potential to provide our nation's enemies or potential enemies with computing capabilities that are restricted by U.S. law"

This is FUD of the highest order, it is wonderfully naïve to think that our 'enemies' would hesitate even for a moment before pirating 'closed source' applications, operating systems and solutions.

GPL stimulates competition

The GPL (and Linux) does stimulate competition and does 'force' proprietary software companies to innovate.

Because, for example, MS Windows has to bring in new features in order to stay ahead of Linux. If MS would stop innovating, then soon (measured in years) the Linux OS would catch up. If MS wants to convince it's costumers to buy their software, they will need to give them some real value for their money. And they would have to keep innovating, as GPL-licenced software will copy their new features.

http://www.techuser.net/index.php?id=43 is the URL to the site that 'inspired' my for this reply.

McBride also claims that OSS will mean fewer jobs, as proprietary software companies get lesser software revenues. But the money lost by a copy of a software product not saled is also saved in an exactly equal amount by the company who uses an OSS alternative. And this money can be spend on ther things, wich will mean jobs. Although that most probably will mean in other fields than the software design industry.

Our "enemies" can build supercomputers?

The SCO advice to our Senate and House Committees on the dangers that our "enemies" can now build supercomputers is pointless. Indeed they can build super clusters using public software that is deployed and developed "worldwide."

The key point is "worldwide", as in the US does not and cannot exert any sort of control on things is does not own. Our enemies can now build a supercomputer and they can talk to each other about their new supercomputer on a cell phone. Do I feel any less "secure" because of this? Not in the least.

I feel sorry for SCO in that they could not
adapt to a changing business climate. But capitalism remains vibrant precisely because companies that cannot keep up go out of business.

[JReed309]

Has SCO bitten off more than it can chew?

Perhaps the FED will step in now and stop the frivolous lawsuits!