[Nottingham] Sun's financial support for SCO (12% of SCO's revenue)

[Robert Davies]

On Thursday 18 Sep 2003 08:57, Jon Masters wrote:
> On Wed, 17 Sep 2003, Robert Postill wrote:
> The information I have suggests that the SCO deal relates purely to some
> drivers used in Solaris x86 probably because they needed them in a hurry.

Jon, sorry for 2nd response, but what information?

You know the article based on accounts is very explicit that the monies were 
for "SCOsource licensing", and they still owe $2.5 million, so they would 
have to be bloody amazing drivers.  Why would Sun be acquiring SCO stock, if 
they just "needed drivers in a hurry"?  Solaris x86 was around for years and 
years, OK they've 'undropped' it, but is 'drivers' a really credible 
explanation?

The article on the 10Q is by Corbet, the LWN main editor, who's got a pretty 
reliable track record.  I've posted a query about the "drivers" explanation 
and asked if Sun have had a chance to comment.  There should be a fair say, 
but the kind of infighting seen in the late 80's and early 90's was so 
damaging to the Unix market, we definitely do not want a repeat with Linux.  
Vendors need to focus on growing the whole market, rather than fighting over 
% points of a much smaller pie.

Rob