SCO Now Willfully Violating the GPL

Pogue Mahone writes "According to The Register, SCO is now distributing Linux code under a more restrictive license than the GPL. This is a violation of copyright, since only the GPL gives them any rights to distribute the code. Time for every single developer who has contributed code to the kernel to send a Cease and Desist letter to SCO."

That's right

[Kierthos]

we'll Slashdot their mail room....

Are they even obligated to legally respond to any C&D letters? IANAL, so I have no idea...

Kierthos

Strange...

[nefele]

Such a topic and no comments? Is everyone writing their letters? ;)

Venting my Outrage...

[Lodragandraoidh]

Outrageous!

Darl McBride Dance Dance Revolution

[corby]

SCO Group is to resume distributing Linux, but only if you agree to a new "IP license" which implicitly supports SCO's intellectual property claims.

So SCO can distribute code they do not own, and I can download the code I do not own, so long as SCO and I agree to our own made-up license for distributing this IP.

Don't you see where this is headed? SCO is entering the music distribution business!

Under this precendent, they will be able to host MP3s for major-label artists, even though the do not own the IP for the songs. Anyone can download the music, so long as you agree with SCO on the licensing terms!

Long live the Darl McBride Dance Dance Revolution!

Such audacity

[base_chakra]

It's as if they're actually trying to outdo themselves!

Oh boy.

[maelstrom]

This is gonna be fun. Anyone care to short SCO?

Hrmm

[acehole]

words and phrases you might need for your letter:

* bitch
* open source
* crack & crack pipe
* fuckyou
* GPL
* upside your head
* enema
* what is up, my homie?
* copyright
* fraud
* federal 'pounding in the ass' jail

I must congratulate SCO.

[pecosdave]

I didn't know it was possible to invent a better kick me sign.

Unixware Free Download

[idlethought]

I'm planning to set up a ftp site where you can freely download source and binaries of SCO's Unixware and other products.

It's all perfectly legal: You can only download if you agree to an additional license that allows you access to my proprietary IP that comprises part of the SCO products.

I can't tell you what that IP is, because I haven't looked. But I'm a pretty clever guy and there is bound to be something I've thought of in there- or at the very least something that I would have thought of had I bothered to think about it.

-- Learning from SCO one Crime at a Time.

So send a C&D Anyways...

[Anonymous Coward]

When they ask you to show what part of Linux you contributed, say "you first". :)

What's wrong with SCO?

[deanj]

What's wrong with SCO? Do they think Linux is an MP3 file or something??

Re:Hmm.. question..

[spikev]

Maybe we can terrorize SCO with some of those WMDs we've confiscated from Iraq.

*N*E*W*S*F*L*A*S*H*

[JaJ_D]

Mircosoft HQ Redmond

A press spokesman for microsoft declared that Microsoft 7 year undisputed record, and title of "Biggest Pisstakers of The Year" had finnaly gone.

"We just could compete with the SCO Board" He was heard to say "Their tactics have been unbelievable! There are a lot of people, here at Microsoft, who are very unhappy - with alrights we should have thought of this"

His comments were into SCO latest tactic in the We-are-on-a-loser-but-our-share-options-are-rising -so-we-can-bail plan. The reason Microssoft is unhappy is becuase of SCO's tactic of getting developers to do all the work for them, with out paying, and the altering the licensing so apparently claiming the work as there own. Intersting in any other case this would be simply called "theft".

As the Microsoft spokesman summed up the anger and frustration many people at Microsoft feel, "why could we think of that - it was shear brilliance! Think of all the money we could save. Heads will role because of this"

Also today the Microsoft announced their latest offering. "In the world of computing", the spokesman said "there is a need for reliable, effective, cheap, stable, secure computing. It has to be said that our latest offering have fell a little way short. So it our pleasure to announce the release of 'Mircosoft Lin++'. It is a fully compatible Linux operating system, that only costs $129 per user licence".

More details of MS Lin++ to follow shortly"



Jaj

With tongue firmly in his cheek

Re:That's right

[11223]

Dude, if you're going to try to slashdot someone, at least do it right:

This is a big, clickable link to slashdot SCO's servers! [sco.com]

Re:Ramifications

[AntiOrganic]

For some reason, I can't picture them being that worried about SCO UnixWare getting pirated.

Re:Hmm.. question..

[Dashing Leech]

I don't think you can terrorize with vaporware.

Re:Darl McBride Dance Dance Revolution

[cgenman]

Yes. SCO seems to be under the delusion that assertions made in court are TRUE until proven FALSE. That, for example, if a license is declared invalid the item falling under the license is immediately in the public domain. Or that a company which has allegedly been wronged is entitled to payments during the discovery phase of the trial, rather than after a ruling has been made. Or that claiming copyright infringement is the equivalent of proving copyright infringement.

In the spirit of SCO, I would like to begin the Great Darl McBride Sales-A-Bration! Darl has wronged both me and my family, and owes us his entire estate. How much do I hear for a slightly used 4.2 liter 2002 Jaguar S-Type R?*

*Anyone participating in the Great Darl McBride Sales-A-Bration implicitly agrees that the Great Darl McBride Sales-A-Bration is completely legal and enforceable. All US judges and members of congress are required to take part in the Great Darl McBride Sales-A-Bration. Some restrictions apply, which we will announce at the appropriate time in the future.

I say we sue them for one MILLION dollars!

[Perlguy]

What? Oh.

One HUNDRED... BILLION dollars!

So...

[Anonymous Coward]

Since they don't agree with GPL they think they have free reign to violate it? Geeze that's audacious.

Imagine if I didn't agree with copyright law and just downloaded mp3s...no wait, that's completly different.

Re:Hmm.. question..

[Anonymous Coward]

Microsoft have managed it for the previous two decades.

Re:Time to enforce the GPL?

[bill_mcgonigle]

IANAL, of course. This is Slashdot, we all play lawyers here.

Can't we just get a checkbox on our preferences page that says "I'm a lawyer". Then we can have a little shark icon that displays next to our username.

WTF?

[t0ny]

I dont even use Linux, and SCO is really pissing me off.

Re:That's right

[No One's Zero]

Mirror Here! [sco.com]
Er, is this a bad place to start karma whoring?

Re:Hmm.. answer.

[ubiquitin]

Really? Microsoft has done this for years.

They're still doing so. Longhorn anyone?

Re:Time to enforce the GPL?

[Eudial]

;; Then we can have a little shark icon that displays next to our username.

You forgot the lasers...

Re:The MASSIVE problem with SCO's actions...

[greenegg77]

The SCO Group (SCOX) announced today that it will begin selling unauthorized copies of Microsoft's (MSFT) MSDN CD's. "We believe that the license that Microsoft distributes their software under is unenforceable and void," said SCO CEO Daryl McBride. "As an added incentive, we will also begin selling Milli Vanilli CD's since they weren't worth licensing in the first place."

Re:That's right

[Wastl]

Unconvenient. Try search for "GPL Violation" [sco.com] instead.

Sebastian

Re:Time to enforce the GPL?

[Suppafly]

Can't we just get a checkbox on our preferences page that says "I'm a lawyer". Then we can have a little shark icon that displays next to our username.

If they implemented that, I think I'd seriously consider becoming a lawyer just for the cool points on slashdot.

Re:Hmm.. question..

[pyrrhonist]

Drive by missionary work?