GeneralThis forum is for non-technical general discussion which can include both Linux and non-Linux topics. Have fun!
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
IBM stated that SCO uses IBM patents found in their OS's:
"
1) data compression technique,
2)a method of navigating among program menus using options arranged in a graphical tree,
3)a method for verifying that an electronic message was received and a
4)method for monitoring computing systems linked in a cluster.
"
These patent claims suprise me,since they are so commemly used (a file browser!). How can IBM make any claims on these patents?
Also would Linux(actually nautilus e.g.), or MS be violating these patents also than?
Last edited by cuboctahedron; 08-07-2003 at 02:44 PM.
This thing just get more and more complex. But it's good to see the community hitting back.
The way I see it, SCO has made ridiculous claims and now it gets ridiculous claims back.
IBM have patents on just about everything They only look them up when they are threatened.... Though I'd think that they were a little more butal in protecting them in the past
The patent itself is for a method. not just a coverall for menu tree In order for a patent to be granted, it must be very, very precise. You cant just rock up to the patent office and go, "hey dudes, I made this menu thing and I want a patent so anytime, anyone, anywhere makes a menu they owe me" Well you can, but they will make you wait 5 years and then tell you to get stuffed. You can go to your patent office and go, "I've got this menu thing, and I want to patent the bit of code that makes the menu behave/look exactly like this..."
Well thats a kind crappy example, but I hope you get the general idea
Distribution: Lots of distros in the past, now Linux Mint
Posts: 748
Rep:
Personally, I think it's just IBM's way of knocking SCO around a bit. SCO may be able to say that some patents weren't defended, but few judges are going to drop 4+ patents from a company as large as IBM. That, plus the other various cases in europe and elsewhere against SCO is likely to have a choking effect. I think IBM is smart enough to let SCO play itself into an empty corner, then let it slit it's own throat. IBM's been screwed too many times by little putzes like SCO (this is a company with 100 years of legal experience) to risk an all out attack, dominating SCO in all aspects, allowing SCO to play david against goliath with a few judges feeling bad for "poor little SCO".
Remember, despite the fact that this is linux/computer related, IBM gets sued regularly on all aspects of it's business, yet few people ever hear the charges/results. That's because IBM usually does best when it's not a well known public david/goliath case. That may be a lot of the reason that SCO is trying to make this a circus. It simply doesn't bode best for IBM to flex it's legal muscles now. On the other hand, giving SCO a little taste of what's possible might get them to push off, or at least panic them into error. They've made enough already that perhaps IBM is just trying to help them off the edge.
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.