Torvalds Says Linux IP Is Sound

An anonymous reader submits: "In an interview with CRN, Linus Torvalds says he's confident there won't be any IP problems discovered in Linux. In fact, Torvalds, says he was extra careful with issues like the IBM Read Copy Update code."

Whew

[sulli]

What a relief. It would really suck to have to switch back to IPX after all these years.

Please [gG]od

[Anonymous Coward]

make the TCP/IP jokes stop, please!

Torvalds Says Linux IP Is 'sound'!?

[wackybrit]

The Linux intellectual property is really sound, and not code? Oh great, now the RIAA are gunna bust our nuts for distributing Linux for free!

If linux is sound....

[Keebler71]

Then if it falls in the forest does anyone hear it?

yes, but

[Anonymous Coward]

what does it sound like?

sco can have my .....

[spotlight2k3]

linux when they pry it from my cold dead hands, no wait, i meant to post that on the nra site. good to see linus finally helping to clarify things

Re:Whew

[pc486]

I think you misinterperted the title. It really means that Linux IP consists of variations in air pressure.

:)

Re:If linux is sound....

[Jad LaFields]

Depends on what version you have. The pre 2.6s have a much louder forestfall property, and so can be heard better.

And how would he know for sure, you ask?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because he's one baaaad computer hackin' mutha fucka.

The circle is complete

[Fux the Pengiun]

About time this came back around. I've been playing this throught my head over and over again, every time this SCO thing comes up, and finally we see the way it really works out.

See, we know SCO is like Darth Vader, and Microsoft is like the Emperor, pulling his strings. Now, we always thought IBM was Luke, kind of, in that they're the ones having to fight off Vader, but I couldn't quite figure out who Linus was. At first, I figured he was Han Solo, with the helping and the fighting and all, and Alan Cox is obviously Chewbacca (just check the hair).

But now I think we see that Linus is really a mix of Obi-Wan and Yoda, because he's helping and guiding, but not really fighting himself. At least I thought he was Yoda, just except for the lying (I mean, wtf didn't Yoda ever tell Luke SCO was his father?) but now we see Obi-Wan taking a more active role, actually standing up to SCO! So we're at the "full circle" part, where Linus tells SCO that if he strikes him down (i.e., inspects the code) he'll become more powerful (i.e. open sourced and GPL protected) than he can possibly imagine.

See, now it all makes sense! Now we just need Luke (IBM) to blow up the "Death Star" (frivilous lawsuits) with a proton torpedo (the GPL) shot down an "exhaust tube" (an exhaust tube). I hope that cleared it all up for everybody.

Does it matter?

[Anonymous Coward]

A mathematician is saying that a-b = (a+b)(a-b)? There must be at least one lawyer payed by a rich company that could win a case against it...

Ok, there is no IP problem in the kernel...

[Juiblex]

but what about the TCP problems?

Re:Torvald's isn't a lawyer

[Anonymous Coward]

I am your boss at a major Fortune 500 company. You are fired.

Re:The circle is complete

[Victa]

About time this came back around. I've been playing this throught my head over and over again, every time this SCO thing comes up, and finally we see the way it really works out... ...Blah Blah Blah... ...shot down an "exhaust tube" (an exhaust tube). I hope that cleared it all up for everybody.

Hopefully the "exhaust tube" is Darl's backside...

Re:Whew

[Anonymous Coward]

I had been hoping for a good NetBEUI stack. Guess it's never to be.

Re:The circle is complete

[debrain]

I think SCO is more like Jar Jar. You just wish it would shut its trap.

Re:RCU code

[Malcontent]

You are thinking wrong. Remember this is going to be tried in Utah. Here in a nutshell will be basis for this trial.

1) SCO is a Utah company.
2) The holding company is also based in Utah (and salt lake).
3) Son of Orrin Hatch the beloved senator from Utah will be the lawyer for SCO.
4) Linux is communist software written by hippies.

Now I ask you good mormon members of this jury. Are you going to rule in favor for this fine mormon company or are you going to rule in favor of a bunch of communist hippies?

SCO has this trial locked up. They will win it no matter what the evidence. It's going to be up to the appelate court to really decide this. Trust me no jury in salt lake is going to rule against the local boys.

Re:Linus Torvalds = The Arbiter

[Anonymous Coward]

Anyway, even though this interview is really short,...

It's short? Thanks for the info, I might read the article then.

nice put-down

[solferino]

Linus :

In the end, SCO is not a very surprising [company to bring a lawsuit]. Their business was zero and it was shrinking.

Curious mathematical idea, but lovely rhetoric.

Re:The circle is complete

[DeltaSigma]

SCO: " IBM, I am your father!"
IBM: " Nooo! That's impossible!"
SCO: "Search your feelings you know it is true.
IBM: "No, I mean that's stupid. I mean, look at you. Heh, you're shorter than I am. I could kick you right off this platform and you'd hit the wall before you even began to descend. I mean, come on, the force isn't exactly strong with you..."

Re:yes, but

[Gleng]

what does it sound like?

cat /boot/vmlinuz* > /dev/audio

Re:Whew

[isorox]

I think you misinterperted the title. It really means that Linux IP consists of variations in air pressure.

IP and air, then surely you'd need something like RFC 1149 [ietf.org]

Re:Linus regard for customers

[Zebbers]

When was the last time someone who "liked" you asked for money, every year, to continue seeing them?

I knew something was wrong when my girlfriend asked if I could do direct deposit. :(

Re:Please [gG]od

[Anonymous Coward]

OK, on with the UDP/IP jokes!

Re:nice put-down

[MrRage]

Well maybe he means that there business was in an epsilon-neighborhood of 0.

Re:Please [gG]od

[El]

In other news, RIAA says sound is IP!

Re:Please [gG]od

[NanoGator]

"make the TCP/IP jokes stop, please! "

No no no, everybody make your jokes about IP, freely!

Re:RCU code

[putaro]

Oh, but you've forgotten IBM's ace in the hole:

5) SCO stands for Santa Cruz Operation.

Now we all know that Santa Cruz is full of dope smoking hippies. These dope smoking hippies are trying to PRETEND to be good Mormons and pull one over on IBM which, though we're not a Mormon business, we like to dress like Mormon missionaries.

Re:I don't like customers

[nathanh]

At least it's better than Darl's impending quote:

Darl McBride: "Unlike Mr Torvalds, I do like customers... served with some fava beans and a nice chianti."

Re:Torvald's isn't a lawyer

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm your mom and you're grounded.

Re:RCU code

[Malcontent]

If you ever go to utah (and I have) you will notice two things. Two things people in Utah hate more then hippies and liberals are californians and new yorkers.

Re:Linus Torvalds = The Arbiter

[borgheron]

Actually, I believe the stories stopped due to the restraining order preventing SCO from spreading their crap so as not to bias any court decision.

GJC

Re:RCU code

[Anonymous Coward]

I have a feeling that if some company sued MS based on code being misused, we'd want the small-fry to have a chance. SCO should be no different.

BZZZZZT!!! Wrong. Most of Slashdot wants SCO to be ripped apart and scattered to the four winds. Why? Because SCO has attacked a sacred cow er... gnu I mean. Gnu, cow, almost the same thing. Ungulates with horns.

Re:Hmm...

[Eccles]

Torvalds: The biggest effect by far has just been a lot of time wasted on discussion.

Think where Linux could be if there wasn't a /. !