SCO's Roadshow Coming Soon

AndyFewt writes "TheRegister has an article on the latest form of SCO FUD, their Roadshow. Funded by HP and kicking off on Oct. 7, SCO users throughout the U.S. and Canada can get their chance to go show Darl just how much they "love" SCO. But of course, Linux users are free to attend."

What Does Darl Get Out Of It?

[waitigetit]

I posted this in a previous SCO thread, but I'm reposting it here, because it's the best answer I can think of to explain SCO's "business model"

What Does Darl Get Out Of It?

Darl gets a big fat payoff if he can deliver four straight profitable quarters. Most of it is in stock, which means he'll have to keep up the fiasco for extra quarter or two to cash out.

At that point, I think we can expect him to leave SCO -- if there is any SCO left to leave. Maybe the final legal showdown will be Darl v. Ralph, to be filed in late 2004 or early 2005. We all know how much Darl loves to sue his employers.

Anyway, this means the SCO v. IBM case is not likely to ever make it to court because there's *no* motivation for Darl to go that far.

In the meantime, he'll do whatever it takes to show profit on the next two or three 10-Q's. He'll slash personnel, support, anything, doesn't matter how it affects SCO's long term prospects, as long as he shows profits each quarter.

He'll try to get people to pay for SCO IP in Linux licenses NOW, not after the case is resolved in court, because he doesn't care what happens that far down the line.

He needs the money on the books and in the 10-Q next quarter and the following quarter. He's got two profitable quarters in a row now, though he probably wouldn't have made it this quarter without cutting personnel and associated costs. Two more to go, and he's golden.

If he hasn't done it already, we can expect some *extremely* creative accounting over the next two quarters. Personally, I think that asset listed as "Goodwill" is just the start of SCO's attempts at creative accounting. Or maybe more money from MS. MS, according to the latest 10-Q (available at SEC), has apparently purchased those "expanded licensing options" that were mentioned in the April 30 10-Q.

Darl's biggest fear is that something will shut down SCO and/or it's FUD machine within the next two-three quarters. If he sounds irrational and afraid, well, that's because he is. He can't pull any more profits out of Germany. Australia, Austria, and Poland are lining up to gag him in their countries. Red Hat's trying to do the same in the U.S. Of course, none of this matters much as long as no court decisions are reached within the next 3 quarters. Which means delay, delay, and delay will be SCO's legal strategy going forward.

Slashdot Press

[Davak]

Slashdot needs to learn to treat SCO like a child. Just ignore their attention-grabbing techniques!

Hell, if slashdot didn't have 4 SCO stories a day, average shmucks like me wouldn't know or care! Quit elevating them to a position of importance!

Sorry. Rant off. Down with SCO. They suck, etc.

Davak

Just what we need

[SuperBanana]

But of course, Linux users are free to attend.

Great. World's first physical DDoS- if enough linux geeks show up, everyone else will want to leave, either because they'll be obnoxious, or look like something out of a cross between an RMS-lookalike-contest and a anti-globalism protest- and smell like one(take your pick on whether tear gas is a curse or a blessing with that crowd).

Here's an idea everyone- show up at these things impeccably dressed, clean cut, and be a perfect gentleman(or lady); wear only a small linux penguin pin like our lovely "patriots" in the US gov't are so fond of doing these days with the american flag pin. That will impress people far more than a freakshow, no matter how valid your ideas are. Rowdyness, immaturity, and messyness do not impress. They intimidate, scare, and irritate.

Show the world we're serious, because folks- the linux "community",unlike a real community, we have yet to stand up for ourselves, especially those whose work is being whole-heartedly claimed by someone else- writing opinion pieces, open letters, etc is not "standing up". Legal action is what we need, but showing up in person is a step; we need a face, and we need one better looking and more tactful than RMS.

Ask to buy a licence

[eadz]

As far as I know, you still can't buy a so called SCO Linux licence.

If they ever have any Q&A sessions, some well formed questions about this would show the visitors that SCO is full of it.

My 2 on SCOx

[tetrahedrassface]

Does SCO even have a product anymore that is worth investing in? I would rather use microsoft than SCO now. Maybe thats what M$ wants. I just dont see how SCO can continue to be in business (long term). Also doesnt Ransom Love just look like a stupid dick? I truly hate him. I am a Christian mank yet i hate him. You see to me this level of greed is where all our U.S. corps are. There is no difference in my mind between business and morality. Sadly SCO and M$ and whoever else are thrteatend by us choose to try to kill us off rather than embrace us.

The truth is that they are calling us thieves while they are the ones that run the monopoly on IT. I would switch to BSD,but you know what? I gonna stick with Linux and they can come fight me for it. If BSD were doing what linux is, then SCO would be suing BSD again. Ransom Love is an asshole son of a btch and he can kiss my ass. I am tired af coorporations being able to trample the little people. My restaurant is incoorporated, but at least I am smart enough to know that you cant run customers off and stay in business.

I have Karma to burn so do with me what you may.

Nobody forces you to read.

[Psyborgue]

Although i do aggree that these articles are at the very least annoying, I would rather be informed anyway. SCO is a danger and they should not be ignored. That doesn't necessarily mean that the comments should string on endlessly. Perhaps Slashdot should have an "SCO ticker" for the time being where people can take a glance at the latest news and not feel obligated to comment. If it appears on the "front page", (some) people will just have to comment. And at length. And at length. (-1 redundant joke.) for crying out loud, half of the comments on the linus interview were debating whether or not it was ethical to copy and paste the NYT article. Good god people. Don't you have anything better to say?!?!?

How much Linux-friendly HP is ?

[Anonymous Coward]

Use of Microsoft products is still a 'political correct' inside HP (vide: dumping OpenMail for Exchange) - their attitude in this matter propably hasn't changed significantly for last few years. After seeing HP from 'inside' for some time (as a contract worker) I've noticed that their Linux support is limited to and only to sell more intel servers and protect their back in case of Microsoft' failure (ie. losing monopoly in OS market). The last thing they want is causing Microsoft angry. In other words, they won't bet on Linux unless they're forced to. And they'll do whatever they can to NOT let Linux gain a dominance in OS market, while being careful to not to lose their 'Linux friendly' PR image. It's definitely NOT the way, IBM has chosen. It's safe to treat them as (mostly) Microsoft shop.

Re:Sponsored by HP !?!?!??!?!?

[AstroDrabb]

What a stab in the back. Maybe it is time to send HP a few thousand emails of complaint to let them know that this kind of behaviour is not supported in the Linux community. What bone-head at HP thought this was a good idea? Talk about the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing.

Re:What to ask them?

[mr_z_beeblebrox]

What should I ask SCO when I'm there if I get a chance to ask one question?

Ask what tcp/ip stack they use in their proprietary "IP".

Re:Slashdot Press

[Intosi]

I for one suffer from a Slashdot SCO overkill.. It even pushed me as far as posting a non-funny, troll-like post... I'd really like to see Slashdot go back to it's core business -- news for nerds, stuff that matters.

Re:What Does Darl Get Out Of It?

[Jaywalk]

Anyway, this means the SCO v. IBM case is not likely to ever make it to court because there's *no* motivation for Darl to go that far.

Actually, he does have motivation. If he makes it obvious that the scheme is a pump and dump, he runs afoul of the SEC and shareholders, who will bleed him white with lawsuits. Even if he doesn't believe it, he has to act like he thinks the case has merit and that SCO actually does own the entire UNIX universe. A poor business decision is not a punishable offense, fraud is.

Re:A delicate question to US readers

[bhima]

I would say that generally Americans do not bring up their religion, unless they either are very zealous or trying to sell you something you aren't likely to buy (Which I suppose is the same thing).

Mormons aren't really a large group in the places I've been to in the US (meaning anywhere but Salt Lake) so Mormons generally aren't out to tell you much.

With the large exception of the kids that are out on their see the world and proselytize tour, which I found to be quite bizarre and the kids quite fun and interesting. Now what does that have to do with SCO and Linux and the law suite we here about every day? My theory NOTHING, as a CEO of a sizable company

Darl McBride by definition is a devout capitalist and his only God is money. Copious quantities of easy and tax free money. I would bet that his religion is more of flag convenience or upbringing than anything else, but then again I could be talking out of my ass and the Mormon CEO's really are building runways for Gay Martians to destroy GNU / Linux.

Re:Slashdot Press

[Hugh George Asm]

> Nothing scares these kinds of lawyers like an organised and informed public!

This is mearly posturing. The show itself is meaningless. Seats are limited to 50 people per show!! The point of the roadshow is to tell people who ARE NOT THERE what they missed, and to make SCO appear to be a big, vibrant operation that requires road shows. When they talk about it, they won't mention that it was a volkswagon bus with 1 stoned driver talking to 50 sleeping people. The'll make it sound like you missed the world if you weren't there.

It's all an illusion, smoke and mirrors, because they're banking on the fact that most people are ignorant, and have no clue what a farce their company has become. Future customers--but especially future investors who don't know SCO-- might be impressed by this circus act.

Re:FAQ on SCO and Linux

[gvc]

From the FAQ:

Has IBM disclosed any of SCO's trade secrets?

SCO says it has, and IBM says it hasn't. Until
SCO identifies the trade secrets that IBM has
allegedly disclosed, it is impossible for an
outsider to evaluate SCO's claims.

I believe that a stronger conclusions may be drawn from SCO's statements. SCO's (specious) argument is this:

1. IBM is bound to keep derivative works secret
2. AIX is a derivative work
3. JFS, and other components, by virtue of being
added to AIX, are part of the derivative
work.
4. Releasing any part of the derivative work
(i.e. JFS et al) is a violation of the
secrecy agreement.

IMO, the fallacy is in step 4. It is fairly subtle, but has been adressed in the courts.

In any event, in the remote chance that some judge (and appeal judge etc.) agree with this logic, it would not affect the fact that IBM owns the copyright on JFS. On that matter the copyright act is very clear: the 'new stuff' added to a derivative work remains the property of the deriver.

Re:Slashdot Press

[drakaan]

Stories that lead to bitching about how SCO is bad doesn't qualify as "News for Nerds"??? Dear god, man (or woman...less likely, but possible), what *does*?

Re:Slashdot Press

[mattdm]

Hell, if slashdot didn't have 4 SCO stories a day, average shmucks like me wouldn't know or care! Quit elevating them to a position of importance!

Average schmucks don't read slashdot. And I'm not saying this to praise the l33tness of /. -- obviously it's Not Very. But the segment of geeks that visit here is relatively narrow. Meanwhile, SCO has a pretty much free reign in the mainstream press, where their statements go largely unchallanged and their press releases go to print as news. It doesn't hurt to have a few channels for the real story. I'm not likely to go digging up SCO stories, but I like that I can follow along by checking in here.

Re:What to ask them?

[mikeee]

"Will you be indemnifying SCO users against violation of IBM's patents?"

Re:4 stories a day? BWAHAHAHA

[Spackler]

And of those 25,320 comments, how many were in favor of SCO? Think about it Darl.