* Microsoft to license SCO Unix patents and source code
In another twist to SCO’s legal offensive against IBM and Linux, it was reported last week that Microsoft would license Unix patents and source code from SCO. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
The move comes a week after SCO announced that it is stopping the sale of its Linux products until the intellectual property issues surrounding Linux and Unix are clarified. SCO is suing IBM for $1 billion, claiming that the company infringed on its Unix patents as part of IBM’s work to improve the Linux operating system. SCO earlier this month also told Linux users, and those who may be thinking about Linux, that businesses deploying Linux could be liable if the operating system is deployed on production machines.
Microsoft officials were reported saying last week that the intent of the deal with SCO is to help make its Windows software better interoperate with Windows. In a statement, the company said: “The announcement of this license is representative of Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to respecting intellectual property and the IT community’s healthy exchange of IP through licensing.”
The phrase “conspiracy” was thrown around on many Linux newsgroups last week regarding the news. While the idea that there has been any direct collusion between SCO and Microsoft to bring about the downfall of Linux is probably far-fetched, Microsoft can only gain from the spread of FUD among enterprises about the viability – technically or legally – of Linux.
