Some Linux Users Violate Sarbanes-Oxley 233
Goyuix writes "According to the IT Observer, publicly owned companies who are using Linux, could be violating the federal securities laws as part of Sarbanes-Oxley. The article goes on to say that companies are required to "disclose ownership of intellectual property to their shareholders." How are these companies supposed to really list out all the IP owners if they were to install a full desktop or server environment - there could be literally thousands of parties listed! What are the current Fortune 500 companies doing, as many of those use Linux in one form or another?" update several people have pointed out that this is about companies who are violating the GPL, not everyone.
Re:Not just Linux (Score:3, Funny)
How are these companies supposed to really list out all the IP owners...
Well, start with 192.168.0.1 and work your way up I suppose.
Re:explain to me again (Score:1, Funny)
IANASOXC (... SOX Consultant), but I believe the logic goes like so:
You, as CEO, need to be able to certify that your Linux use is GPL-compliant. Otherwise you'll face the unexpected cost of paying attorneys fees, judgements and/or settlements brought by the Evil Jackbooted Enforcers of the FSF. Now you have this humungous risk-related liability that is not presented in your financial reporting to the shareholders. That means you told a lie. And that means you'll have to become Bernie Ebber's cellmate and man-wife.
Re:Not just Linux (Score:5, Funny)
Hence the name.
Here's an Operating System fud^H^H^Hfact sheet
1) Windows. Expensive. Not FreeBSD. You may BURN in HELL forever if you use it.
2) Linux. Free Unix type OS, unquantifiable risk of prison rape. No strlcat [redhat.com].
3) NetBSD. Let's face it do you really need all those platforms? Why not concentrate on optimising for today's mainstream hardware. My friend Bob installed it on his new box, and it caught fire and burned down his house.
4) OpenBSD. Kick ass security. Theo seems a bit odd. Lags a bit feature and driver wise. There are reports that OpenBSD users may die of untreatable brain cancer.
5) MacOs. Slick. Good for clients. Expensive. You may have to grow a goatee, wear black polo necks [penny-arcade.com]. Mac OS users won't accept you as one of them, they will mock your dress sense behind your back.
Face it, FreeBSD is the best choice for every person in the world. Fact.