[sclug] Linux / SCO babble

[H/J Wyper]

There's some postings on slashdot (http://yro.slashdot.org) that deconstruct
the SCO letter pretty comprehensively, including the interesting theory that
SCO's claim of a million lines of code copied is based on them comparing
**blank lines** and finding a match.

I've just received a flyer inviting me to the October 8/9 Linux Expo in
London.  It says on the back "Previous exhibitors include... ...SCO,...".  I
wonder if they're coming along this year?  If so, they'd better bring riot
gear.

There's also a response to McBride's letter circulating that appears to be
from Linus Torvalds (not confirmed it's him but the style is familiar):

----------------------

Open letter to Darl McBride -- please grow up.

Dear Darl,

Thank you so much for your letter.

We are happy that you agree that customers need to know that Open Source is
legal and stable, and we heartily agree with that sentence of your letter.
The others don't seem to make as much sense, but we find the dialogue
refreshing.

However, we have to sadly decline taking business model advice from a
company that seems to have squandered all its money (that it made off a
Linux IPO, I might add, since there's a nice bit of irony there), and now
seems to play the US legal system as a lottery. We in the Open Source group
continue to believe in technology as a way of driving customer interest and
demand.

Also, we find your references to a negotiating table somewhat confusing,
since there doesn't seem to be anything to negotiate about. SCO has yet to
show any infringing IP in the Open Source domain, but we wait with bated
breath for when you will actually care to inform us about what you are
blathering about.

All of our source code is out in the open, and we welcome you point to any
particular piece you might disagree with.

Until then, please accept our gratitude for your submission,

Yours truly,

Linus Torvalds

------------------------

And to think that the first Linux I installed was Caldera... it makes me
retch.

James.

Message: 1
From: Leon Ward <leon.ward at added-dimension.co.uk>
To: "'sclug at sclug.org.uk'" <sclug at sclug.org.uk>
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 14:06:10 +0100
Subject: [sclug] Sco / Linux babble

All,
	If you have not spotted this on the register already, it is well
worth a read.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/32798.html

I don't want to spoil the read but here are a few good quotes.

Darl McBride of SCO

It's time for everyone else in the industry, individuals and small
corporations, to understand this and to implement our own business models -
something that keeps us alive and profitable. In the long term

Eric Raymond

Linux is our work and our lawful property, the distillation of twelve years
of hard work, idealism, creativity, tears, joy, and sweat by hundreds of
thousands of cooperating hackers all over the world. It is not yours, has
never been yours, and will never be yours.

-Leon