Linus Speaks Out, Calls SCO 'Cornered Rat' 598
dexterpexter writes "In an interview with Business Week, Linux founder and guardian Linus Torvalds had, in his usual brand of blunt humor, the following to say about SCO: 'They're a cornered rat, and quite frankly, I think they have rabies to boot. I'd rather not get too close to them,' and 'There are literally several levels of SCO being wrong. And even if we were to live in that alternate universe where SCO would be right, they'd still be wrong.'" In the same issue, there's also an interview with Darl McBride where he admits that the company was failing and the Linux-related lawsuits were a last-ditch effort to prevent bankruptcy.
I'm glad he was honest at least (Score:4, Interesting)
Litigious Bastards! (Score:5, Interesting)
You may remember my attempt at starting a GoogleBombing where "litigious bastards" links to SCO as the first hit. (see this
Way to go! It's a good day for slashdot and the net as a whole.
Regardless (Score:3, Interesting)
Hopefully and finally SCOX will now start showing the true worth of the company. BTW, does anyone know what the top execs have cleared thus far from this scam? Was it worth it and is this going to be an unforunate part of doing business like SPAM?
SCO not cornered rat, unless the rat can paint (Score:5, Interesting)
The BusinessWeek/Information Technology/Online Extra [businessweek.com] is pretty slick. As I read it, it appears that if McBribe is a cornered rat, then it's by his own devices.
Within 30 days he leaps into action. He then sandbags IBM after he sends out a Shareholder's letter
Then he get's all pissy, claming IBM goes ballistic when Big Blue flexes it's muscles.
The more I read about this the more and more it's clear to me that McBribe isn't leading this company into profitability, but a death march
Sounds to me like SCO has no one to blame but themselves here.
Darl finally has a valid point! (Score:2, Interesting)
This is the first intelligent thing I have heard Darl say throughout this process.
"Operating systems shouldn't be free" (Score:5, Interesting)
This guy actually believes in a blanket statement like that?
Lies, damn lies (Score:5, Interesting)
In concept it was great, it wasn't until December when we came out and said here's where the problems are with Linux, and we have a program where you can deal with that.
Q: What was the reception to that?
A: It seemed everyone in the industry was either positive or neutral to that, except for IBM. IBM had a violent reaction to it, even though it wasn't targeted directly at them.
Everyone was either positive or neutral to it? What are you smoking today Darl? Give me an f'en break.
This is especially funny (Score:4, Interesting)
This is absolutely hilarious when you consider that if you are one of the hypothetical companies that actually bought a license, SCO's response has been to threaten you with more litigation.
SCO is basically treating "UNIXWare Licensees" as "people we can stomp all over". Recently they sent a letter to all of their licensees stating that they have to prove they aren't using a version of linux that contains SCO code-- thus opening themselves up to a lawsuit if this can be shown to be wrong-- or lose their license.
Now, think about this-- SCO is saying publicly that if you buy a UNIXWare License, you get to use the linux infected with hypothetical SCO code without fear of lawsuit. Then when they buy one, you demand you stop using the linux infected with hypothetical SCO code or face a lawsuit!
WTF?
"Levels of lies" (Score:5, Interesting)
They've dug such a web of lies and confusion, and I think that is actually helping them keep their garbage claims going for so long!
Re:Surprised by Linus (Score:5, Interesting)
This is a seed that has been germinating in the computing underbelly since Linus posted to comp.minix.announce.
The world's largest, most influential software manufacturers are duking it out over one of the next major milestones in computing.
It's a noble thing to ignore spit, sticks, and stones,, but nobler still to stand your ground and speak the truth when the time is right.
Ask *them* why they are paying for software. They just don't know that it's out there for free. It grows on the only tree they are aware of - CompUSA, BestBuy, etc.
Mention "no more" in connection to these items:
Ad ware
Spy ware
$450 word processors
Viruses (mostly)
and most importantly, you can look under the hood to see what and who is doing what with the computer in *YOUR* living room.
The times - they are a changin'..
If {} else {} (Score:1, Interesting)
But, because it is Open Source, the should just be able to say: "look guys, starting from line xx to line yy the code in the linux file is exactly the same as line zz in our file...". However it looks like they can't.
So I'm going with the else part.
Hoping they go bancrupt soon, so this will all go away...
Poker game (Score:5, Interesting)
SCO is betting the bank - be worried?? (Score:2, Interesting)
Is Darl really bluffing, or is there something we're missing? Linus did not code the entire kernel all by himself - what if someone slipped some copied code in there and passed it off as orginal? Possible?
What if, to use Linus' map maker example against him, SCO has found a code bug that in Linux that matches a code bug they own?
As someone said in previous Slashdot comment, Darl is betting the bank. As a CEO, you only do that when it's your only option, when your case is rock solid, or when you intend to defraud the public. Which is it, Darl?
Re:"Intellectual Property" (Score:5, Interesting)
"Linux doesn't have any SCO IP" would be quoted as "Linux doesn't have any [intellectual property belonging to SCO]".
"I couldn't automate a grep through my mail store" would be quoted as "I couldn't automate a [search through my saved email messages]".
steveha
Re:I'm glad he was honest at least (Score:5, Interesting)
A: Very carefully over the last quarter, instead of sending out mass invoices, we stepped very carefully and really had a lot of direct one-on-one meetings with 15 or so companies. In the process of doing that, we learned a lot. We listened. We talked. And we went back and forth. About 20% of those companies signed licenses with us.
That means 3 companies signed licenses. MS, and who else? That's not a stellar record.
And now, something from the article I didn't know before:
Q: Do you think that any copyright or patent-protected Unix code has actually found its way into Linux?
A: Unlikely. There are now a number of people who have access to both Unix sources and Linux code, and literally written automated tools to find similarities. They found something like 30 lines from [Silicon Graphics, SGI ] that were dubious and that had been removed already.
I hadn't known that there were people with access to Unix source that were working on this. I guess now we know that there isn't unix code in Linux, contributed by IBM or otherwise. We don't have to wait for SCO to 'produce' (read: falsify) evidence. As far as I'm concerned, case closed.
Re:But is the recognition good or bad? (Score:3, Interesting)
Heavy-handed [editting] in the [Linus interview].. (Score:2, Interesting)
The [use of brackets to indicate editorial summary] throughout the [BusinessWeek interview with Linus] is a little [excessive]... I [really wonder] what the [uneditted transcript] looked like. For all we know, [Linus] could have said [bite me Darl you little weasel].
Re:"Operating systems shouldn't be free" (Score:3, Interesting)
Read: Microsoft. IMHO that was a *direct* reference to them
Re:Lies, damn lies (Score:5, Interesting)
The better quotes?
McBride: We spent two weeks talking to IBM about how we could work together, and that didn't get anywhere.
IBM (written statement): SCO did not give IBM any notice or warning of them prior to filing its lawsuit.
And...
Q: So your lawyers are talking to their [Google's] lawyers?
A: We've got a team that's engaged in going back and forth.
A Google spokesman says the search giant has not discussed with SCO its demands.
So, how, exactly, are they going back and forth? Is your team going to Google, asking to talk to someone, being told to shove off, and coming back? That's not "back and forth". That's humiliation.
And, finally...
We came out last summer and put out some code that the Linux community on one hand said, preposterous, that's [Berkeley software]. On the other hand, some people in the Linux community said, hold on, you may have some copyright issues there....
The code that I saw was under the BSD license and/or in the public domain. The ties back to SysV had been severed repeatedly. The SGI code was removed shortly after it was put in place and isn't in any current kernel or distro, and hasn't been for a long time. There is no copyright issue -- copyright law would only allow you to get a court order to cease infringement, which is exactly what happened.
So, exactly what is he talking about here? Or is it just all spin and the same BS we've been seeing for months now? SCO would be well advised to stick to the small bits of their case that they might have a chance with (namely contract breech with IBM)... but, of course, those don't have anywhere near the payoff they need.
M$ connection (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:I'm glad he was honest at least (Score:4, Interesting)
He said 'about'. MS signed one and Sun signed another. Apparently, 2/15ths is about 20%.
Seems like par for the course for Darl.
Tax write off (Score:5, Interesting)
Besides, right now lawyers are running the show over at SCO. You really think they're gonna let the licensees get paid before they do? Once that company folds, the lawyers get paid first, probably creditors next and then anyone who threatens to sue last.
Re:The question is... (Score:5, Interesting)
Where's he pulling this from? Who in the Linux community said it was tainted? Any links to these statements?
Or is he just pulling this out of his ass?
Re:SCO is betting the bank - be worried?? (Score:2, Interesting)
However fucked the US legal system is, such a case in point should raise a few eyebrows about SCO's real motives.
Re:What about the open source community? (Score:3, Interesting)
Food for thought (if nothing more).
n/a
3 licensees (Score:3, Interesting)
A: Very carefully over the last quarter, instead of sending out mass invoices, we stepped very carefully and really had a lot of direct one-on-one meetings with 15 or so companies. In the process of doing that, we learned a lot. We listened. We talked. And we went back and forth. About 20% of those companies signed licenses with us."
20% of 15 = 3.0
Re:The question is... (Score:3, Interesting)
Take that, EE major. You're supposed to be smart enough to figure this out on your own.
For that matter, most crash-prone Windows machines have been "crashy" due to poor hardware setup/faulty hardware. And from experience, if you're looking for a stable Linux distribution, Red Hat ought to be one of your last choices. YMMV.
Re:Tax write off (Score:3, Interesting)