[plug] Microsost Lisencing Unix from SCO?!

[mark]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Weatherall" <weatherd at netvtise.com.au>
To: <plug at plug.linux.org.au>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 1:32 AM
Subject: Re: [plug] Microsost Lisencing Unix from SCO?!


> mark wrote:
>
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Craig Ringer" <craig at postnewspapers.com.au>
> >To: <plug at plug.linux.org.au>
> >Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 10:20 AM
> >Subject: Re: [plug] Microsost Lisencing Unix from SCO?!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>>Just stumbled across this.  Looks like some people's theories were
> >>>
> >>>
> >right.
> >
> >
> >>>http://news.com.com/2100-1016_3-1007528.html
> >>>
> >>>
> >>All that looks like is an effort by MS to avoid being sued over
> >>"Services for UNIX" and similar products. Quite frankly, I thought they
> >>already held the appropriate licenses.
> >>
> >>If they show signs of buying SCO, that's when to get concerned.
> >>
> >>Craig
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >I think one can say it is a safe bet that MS was the catalyst for this
from
> >the start, or at least many people have suspected it!  After all Linux is
a
> >desktop/server rival that can be done without.
> >
> >On a more personal note:
> >
> >I am MS I am the Borg, you will be assimilated.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> Craig 's interpretation seems closser to what you can deduce from that
> article . The crucial paragraph is
> "Late Sunday, Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith said acquiring the
> license from SCO "is representative of Microsoft's ongoing commitment to
> respecting intellectual property and the IT community's healthy exchange
> of IP through licensing. This helps to ensure IP compliance across
> Microsoft solutions and supports our efforts around existing products
> like services for Unix that further Unix interoperability."
> Note that he is talking about  Microsoft Windows - Unix interoperability
> tools
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/sfu/default.asp
> Microsoft advertise the following which is probably what SCO are
> claiming are their IP.
> *Source code for SFU 3.0/Interix Utilities*
> CD containing the source code for the SFU 3.0 base utilities: diff,
> sdiff, bc, dc, cpio, gzip, gunzip, gawk, patch, csplit, nl, strings,
> rpm, and SDK utilities/libraries ld.so, gcc, gdb, g++, g77, gasp,
> objcopy, ld, as, ar, nm, size, strip, ci, co, diff3 rcs, rlog, and ident.
>
> Regards
>
>
Must agree I did read a bit far on that one.  The above answer was meant for
another question from another LUG.

The answer I mean't to give to Craig's post (which got sent to the other LUG
posting) is:

The MS/SCO licensing issue would look to be based purely on politics, it
would be obvious that they, MS, want SCO to win any forthcoming lawsuit.  It
would serve not only to strike at IBM, but hopefully slow down Linux growth
and progression.  From a MS perspective, why go at Linux, let SCO muddy the
waters.  All MS have to do is sit back watch the spectacle and occiasonally
wave
there licence in the air.  No risk to them at all!

(Note to self : Don't attempt to multitask)

Thanks

Mark