SCO May Countersue Red Hat, SuSE Joins The Fray

uninet writes "The SCO Group, Inc. today released a statement concerning the lawsuit filed against it yesterday by Red Hat, Inc. The release quotes Darl McBride, SCO's President and CEO, as being 'disappointed' with Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik for not being 'forthcoming' about Red Hat's intentions in a previous discussion." Reader psykocrime adds "According to this SuSE press release, SuSE has publically announced their support for RedHat's actions against SCO. Quoting from the press release: 'SCO has already been halted in Germany and we applaud Red Hat's actions to help end their activities in the US -- and beyond. We applaud their efforts to restrict the rhetoric of the SCO group -- and the FUD they are trying to instill -- and will determine quickly what actions SuSE can take to support Red Hat in their efforts.'" Read on for a few more links.

Vladimir writes "What no one has really touched upon is that the SCO vs. IBM court date is in April 2005, which could mean that the resolution of this case could be somewhere in 2006-2007, by which time Linux or any other OS may be irrelevant. People please keep your wallets in your pocket. Also, this lawyer has a long analysis of SCO extortion attempts and debunks a lot of their FUD."

Besides which, Omega writes "VNUnet has a story on how the economic analysis firm The Butler Group predicts that even if SCO can demonstrate there is offending code in the Linux kernel, it could easily be replaced."

It's like SNK versus Capcom!

[JanusFury]

Red Hat tags out and SuSE jumps into the fray, and then they both do a combo on SCO!

SCO is down to its last bit of health, it looks like the end!

Oh wait, SCO just tagged out! Here comes Microsoft!

Wow

[Anonymous Coward]

Why don't they just call this site

Slashdot: News about SCO and Microsoft

Re:See the code

[Tsali]

"Because it's devastating to my case!"
- Jim Carey, Liar, Liar

SCO

[Anonymous Coward]

I just paid SCO for a valid Linux license.

It is not THAT much money, and I don't have to worry about being sued or breaking the law.

Just my 2 cents

Lawyerspeak

[Nogami_Saeko]

Also, this lawyer has a long analysis of SCO extortion attempts and debunks a lot of their FUD.

And from the page:

"The jerkheads at SCO refuse to disclose what their IP is choosing instead to only make general and ambiguous public and inflammatory claims about others. Without proof, of course. Even without substance."

I don't know when the last time I've heard a lawyer use "jerkheads" was, but it was probably a long time ago, if ever ;)

N.

Re:SCO

[isorox]

Dear Mr. COWARD,

We note that you are using the word "money" in your post. This is flagrant misuse of our intellectual property, and as such we will require you to license the word. Please contact our sales department (1-800-SUEMYSHORTS) to discuss volume licensing from $900 per instance.

Yours Sincerly

Mr I.S.Orox

Re:Stay Tuned, Don't Change That Channel!

[n3rd]

My bad.

In typical Slashdot fashion I didn't read the whole article.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:SCO

[Anonymous Coward]

In other news:
SCO revenue for the quarter ending August 31 2003 estimated at $690.

Re:Stay Tuned, Don't Change That Channel!

[Zigg]

As anyone with the reading comprehension of a 3rd grader can tell, this does not say or even implies anything about counter-suing.

That's because you took the quote out of context. Add these lines:

Yours truly
Darl C. McBride

Now it becomes very obvious. :-)

Can someone explain what 'shorting' is?

[bigberk]

I hope you don't consider this too off-topic ;)

Can someone explain to me, or provide some good links, so I can learn properly what 'shorting' is in respect to stocks? No particular reason...

and in other news

[Darth_brooks]

Mike Tyson has announced he will sue all of his former opponents, as they were not 'forthcoming' about their intentions to hit back.

McBride ended his letter somewhat vaguely by suggesting that Red Hat's "decision to file legal action does not seem conducive to the long-term survivability of Linux."

Yeah, Defending your company's business practices is a horrible way to stay in business. You should attack other people's practices.

Re:It's like SNK versus Capcom!

[Zoop]

Ahem.

Would they use the SuSEplex move on SCO?

In other news

[revividus]

...the Mafia is sueing SCO for violating it's Racketeering(TM) IP. The Mafia intends to settle out of court, however, and has already sent representatives Vinnie and Guido to visit McBride....

SCO is hiring!

[borgdows]

http://sco.com/company/jobs/

They're seeking a Senior Sales Account Manager... oh wait they should have called the job Senior Stupid Cow Milker!

Tune in next week!

[Darth_brooks]

It's SCO RAW!

Announcer 1: Welcome back to the staples center where we're in the middle of the SCO-redhat cage match for the undisputed heavyweight rights to Unix! SCO Goes for the ankle lock, but Redhat counters. Redhat's climbing to the top rope (crown moans) Oh and a cheap shot by SCO to the groin! SCO is going for the reverse boston crab, things are not looking good for Redhat...

Announcer 2: OHMYGOD! Look at this!

Announcer 1: It's SuSE! SuSE is coming to the ring to make the save!

Announcer 2: Look out, he's got a folding chair....

Re:Can someone explain what 'shorting' is?

[Eric Destiny]

This is Slashdot. Pictures of gaping anuses aren't off-topic.

Yeah give sco a call.....

[Anonymous Coward]

I called SCO enquiring about the linuxware license and was promptly told to "return to my basement" and stop wasting Mr. Snow's time for enquiring about whether or not i can send SCO a bill for Kernel code that they are distributing that i have written.

Here is the number....this is the second supervisor up the chain of command.

1.801.765.4999
Ask for Mr. Snow

Please feel free to give him a call and ask him whatever is on your mind.

Re:Wallpaper of the Penguin smashing the SCO Logo

[EvilTwinSkippy]

How about a new corporate logo for SCO: the Scodo. A big, clumsy, and rather extinct bird that tries to dress itself up like a penguin.

WWF!

[Noryungi]

Is it me, or is this SCO thing looking more and more like a bad parody of a wrestling match??!!

"And, in the left corner, Red Hat is entering the ring, with his trademarked legal fund spandex and red fedora! SuSE is standing by, ready to lend a helping hand to his wrestling partner, while SCO's partner-in-crime, Microsoft is screaming 'HURT HIM!, HURT HIM!' to Darl McBride... But wait! Oh my Gosh! Red Hat has started a double-nuclear-powered screwdriver on both Darl McBride legs!! Wait!! Microsoft is trying to bite Red Hat butt while being severely pounded by 'Mein licenz ist GPL' SuSE!! It's a four way fight, people!"

Aaaaah... Saturday night wrestling... (lick lips in anticipation)...

Let's just hope that the good guys win! 10 to 1 on the little guy with the red hat! ;-)

Re:See the code

[jkrise]

'Cos SCO is interested in extortion, not reasoning.
'Cos the justice system is such that anyone can throw shit and ask others to clean up the mess.
'Cos firms are no longer interested in delivering products and services, but in making money and enriching a few directors.
'Cos, maybe there isn't much truth in what SCO's trying to have us believe.

-

Re:Analysis - More than Linux hinges on this

[arvindn]

I'm hoping that Red Hat and those supporting them beat the utter legal tar out of SCO. It's not just a Linux thing, either.

You're right, tar is not just a linux thing. Like most GNU programs, it is very portable. ;^)

Re:Duh.

[EvilTwinSkippy]

And when you are done spanking Zoot, you must spank me too. And after that ... the Oral Sex!

Re:Speaking of licenses

[EvilTwinSkippy]

Well, they couldn't afford a horse's head, so I got a Gerbil's. They also can't afford a Godfather, Daryl is the Nephew. The hitman is armed with a waterpistol filled with lemon juice.

Re:See the code

[nut]

Very simple. As soon as SCO tells the world exactly what pieces of code in the linux kernel they are claiming ownership of, they will be removed and re-written by an army of open of open source developers. SCO immediately loses ownership as soon as it tells people what it claims to own.
It's a bit like Schrodinger's cat, except that even if it's alive when it comes out of the box, we immediately kill it anyway.

Re:Replacing the Code

[darkov]

You are not all square... you have to pay for the IP you stole. End of story.

Fuck, it's Darl McBride, posting on Slashdot!

Re:SCO is hiring!

[Anthony Boyd]

They're seeking a Senior Sales Account Manager...

Someone should infiltrate. Either get the job so you can try to work within their system and convince your coworkers to behave ethically, or get in there and see how long you can keep the job while you royally undermine the company's business.

Re:They always countersue

[perdelucena]

Nope, this is recursive! there must be a stop condition.

--
Sco Sucks

Re:Lawyerspeak

[praedor]

So true. They normally make heavy use of the time-venerated "stupidhead" descriptor, and somewhat less frequently, the softer "poo-head".

the problem with press releases

[Adler]

why do companies release needless papers stating their position on stupid things such as this, for once i wanna see a company release a press statment to a company pulling crap like SCO that says "Get fucked." what more do you need to say? seriously i'm not trying to start a flame war here, think about it, whats the most simple way to deal with SCO right now? sometimes you need a simple message for simple minded people.

Want recent SCO Linux release

[darkonc]

Does anybody have a copy of SCO Linux from after Feb 2003 (that they haven't already burned)? an install ISO would be best. I'd like to have a copy of SCO Linux running on one of my boxes before I call them to talk about their new license scheme.

Sources would be good too (I guess I could always load an update kernel binary and source from their website)

Re:An insult on the US justice system...

[nEoN nOoDlE]

The US justice system is too free, maybe

Yeah, you're right... what the US needs is a good dictator.

Unbelievable business opportunity

[Anonymous Coward]

Hello dear friend and greetings from sunny Nigeria.
Please forgive me this intrusion, but your name was forwarded to me as a person I can trust. My name is Dr. Mombutu and I am the CEO of SCO for Nigeria. As you are probably aware SCO is now involved in a lawsuit which will undoubtedly result in a multi million dollar settlement as every user of devil spawn Linux will be ordered to pay money that is being owned to SCO as a result of copyright infringement. According to careful estimates this would result in a sum of $47.8 million US Dollars being deposited in SCO's accounts over the period of next 2 (two) years. I would like to offer you 10% (ten percent) of the entire $47.8 million if you help us in the legal fight against Linux. Your contribution will only have to amount to US$ 699 if you have a uniprocessor machine running Linux, US$1149 for a dual processor machine US$2499 for quad and US$4999 for a eight cCPU machine. Each additional single CPU will be $749, while a promotional licence fee for embedded devices is $32 per device. I personally guarantee that 10% of the entire $47.8 million will be deposited into the account of your choice as soon as the lawsuit is completed. Please send cash, certified cheque or money order to

Dr. Mombutu
Box. 2301
1 Aguiyi Ironsi Street
Maitama Abuja, Nigeria NG

Cosa Nostra

[bonoboy]

The only real difference is that this "organization" is not threatening the law suit on shaky if not absurd grounds. Rather is it like an insurance company of sorts.

Yeah, and exactly like SCO, it's also known as a "protection racket."

Re:They always countersue

[brocheck]

There is.

while (myCompany.capital() > 1)
{
willsue = TRUE;
}
willsue = FALSE;

return myCompany.chaptereleven();

You should have asked for Moe.

[Sans_A_Cause]

He's widely acknowledged as the smart one. Oh, well...at least you didn't get Curley

Re:They always countersue

[SmoothCriminal]

I agree after watching divorce court for the last 10 years without missing an episode

Re:They always countersue

[Anonymous Coward]

Hehe, I was going to mod you as funny... but then I thought... "Wait, he's been watching divorce court for the last 10 years?!?!? And there is not a 'Pathetic' moderation option!!".

So instead of modding you as offtopic, I made this witty reply.

nope, that's an infinite loop...

[Anonymous Coward]

Here's the recursion:

int sue_company(Company& myCompany, Company& otherCompany)
{
if ((myCompany.capital > 0.0) && (otherCompany.capital > 0.0))
{
myCompany.capital -= prosecution_lawyer_fees + court_fees;
otherCompany.capital -= defense_lawyer_fees;
sue_company(otherCompany, myCompany);
} else if (myCompany.capital > 0.0)
{
return otherCompany.chaptereleven();
} else
{
return myCompany.chaptereleven();
}
}

Re:They always countersue

[magores]

Can anyone show the recursion in brainf*ck?

Seems like it would fit the SCO thought process right now.