[plug] Isolate SCO resellers.

Tue Jan 20 14:56:00 WST 2004

Ok. A suggestion. here. I note that SCO has said its fraudulent licences
are available though 'sco resellers'.

I say we harass those resellers and let them know that the IT community
will not countenance fraud and blackmail.

Quite clearly, companies like IBM, Redhat, OSDN, and individuals like
Linus Torevalds and Allan Cox own copyrights over the source code to
Linux. These are licenced in perpetuity on the strict condition that the
GPL is adhered to.

Whether SCO's claims on linux's internals hold validity or not, this does
not disclaim them from a responsibility to respect the licence conditions
imposed by other contributors to the kernel. Thus it is incumbent on SCO
to either withdraw the claim, or remove itself entirely from the
distribution of any sort of linux product. Including licences for it.

This is the law.

Distributors of SCO's licences need to be made fully aware that regardless
of the outcome of its suit against IBM, anyone engaged in this sort of
behavior *will* face the certain prospect of the full force of copyright
law being imposed upon them.

These can include;-
Injunctions.
Damages.
Loss of Profits.

I put it to the list to consider what *we* can do to make sure this
happens. SCO may be beligerant and lawless in its actions. I am of the
firm belief it will be brought to full account in courts around the world.
However its Distributors are merely business out to make a buck to put
food on the table. These distrubutors CAN be reasoned with, and explained
to that there is no point in facing certain destruction in the australian
market place when the simple alternative is to just say NO.

Shayne.

------------------------------------
"Must not Sleep! Must warn others!"
-Aesop.
Shayne O'Neill. Indymedia. Fun.
http://www.perthimc.asn.au

On Tue, 20 Jan 2004, Chris Cornish wrote:

>
> Just thought this may intrest some of you on the list
>
>
> Kind Regards
> Chris Cornish
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kieran O'Shaughnessy [mailto:TeamSCO at sco.rsc01.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, 20 January 2004 8:28 AM
> To: ccornish at eftel.com.au
> Subject: SCO ANZ Announces IP License for Linux
>
> SCO Announces ANZ Availability of SCO Intellectual Property License
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> Sydney, January 20 2004
>
> The SCO Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOX), the owner of the UNIXR operating
> system and a leading provider of UNIX-based solutions, today announced
> the availability of the SCO Intellectual Property License to companies
> and organisations in Australia and New Zealand.
>
> The company began the worldwide roll out of the license in the UK,
> France and other European countries last week, and plans to make the
> license available to many more countries and regions by February 1.
>
> The SCO Intellectual Property (IP) License permits the use of SCO's
> intellectual property, in binary form only, as contained in Linux
> distributions.  By purchasing the license, customers are properly
> compensating SCO for the UNIX source code, derivative UNIX code and
> other UNIX-related intellectual property and copyrights owned by SCO as
> it is currently found in Linux.
>
> Pricing:
> The SCO IP License is currently available at introductory pricing of
> AUD$999.00 per server processor and AUD$285.00 per desktop processor.
> The company is also offering the license to embedded device
> manufacturers that use Linux to run their devices.
>
> In addition to extending the license to customers worldwide, the company
> also announced that the license will shortly be made available through
> select SCO resellers.  SCO resellers who are interested in obtaining
> more information about providing the SCO IP License to their customers
> can contact SCO at anz_info at sco.com after February 1, 2004.
>
> "While we have identified several problem areas at issue within Linux,
> we also want to be fair to customers and allow them to continue using
> Linux and our intellectual property unencumbered," said Chris Sontag,
> senior vice president and general manager of SCOsource, the intellectual
> property licensing and protection division of The SCO Group, Inc.  "We
> believe the SCO IP License helps customers satisfy the legal
> requirements to continue using SCO's UNIX intellectual property in Linux
> in a forthright way while properly compensating the company for use of
> its property."
>
> Kieran O'Shaughnessy, SCO's Regional General Manager, Australia and New
> Zealand, said he will begin briefing the company's local distributors
> this week regarding the SCO IP License's introduction.
>
> "The SCO IP License helps organisations in Australia and New Zealand to
> protect and leverage the investments they have made in Linux while
> providing the means for them to continue day-to-day business without
> interruption," he said.
>
> Availability:
> Commercial business end users of Linux, based on the 2.2 kernel and
> later, that are interested in more information or in purchasing the SCO
> IP License in Australia or New Zealand can call +61 2 9440 7577 or
> e-mail SCO at anz_info at sco.com.
>
> ends
>
> Notes for Editors:
>
> Forward looking statement safe harbor:
> This press release contains a forward looking statement regarding The
> Company's plans to make the SCO Intellectual Property License available
> in Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., France, and other European
> countries and many more countries and regions by February 1, 2004. This
> statement is subject to risks and uncertainties including without
> limitation those risks and uncertainties identified in our filings with
> the SEC and the risk that we will not be in a position to roll out this
> license in such countries and regions as planned. We undertake no
> obligation to update the information in this release, except as required
> by law.
>
> About The SCO Group
> The SCO Group (Nasdaq: SCOX) helps millions of customers in more than 82
> countries to grow their businesses with UNIX business solutions.
>
> Headquartered in Lindon, Utah, SCO has a worldwide network of more than
> 11,000 resellers and 4,000 developers. SCO Global Services provides
> reliable localized support and services to all partners and customers.
>
> For more information on SCO products and services visit:
> http://www.sco.com .
>
> SCO and the associated SCO logo are trademarks or registered trademarks
> of The SCO Group, Inc., in the U.S. and other countries. UNIX is a
> registered trademark of The Open Group in the United States and other
> countries. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other
> brand or product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to
> identify products or services of, their respective owners.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> This message was sent by The SCO Group using Responsys Interact.
>
> Safely unsubscribe from The SCO Group e-mail at any time:
>
> http://sco.rsc01.net/servlet/optout?JHsKLkHDYYZZADVEJJhkgploFLMmLsDJhtDH
> NE0
>
> View our permission marketing policy:
>
> http://www.rsvp0.net/servlet/pp/1?u=http://sco.rsc01.net/servlet/optout?
> JHsKLkHDYYZZADVEJJhkgploFLMmLsDJhtDHNE0
>
>
>
>
> ---
> Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.561 / Virus Database: 353 - Release Date: 13/01/2004
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.561 / Virus Database: 353 - Release Date: 13/01/2004
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> plug mailing list
> plug at plug.linux.org.au
> http://mail.plug.linux.org.au/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/plug
>