[NCLUG] sco stock tanked today ...

[Doug Holland]

On Sat 27 Sep 2003 6:00 am, jbass at dmsd.com wrote:
> bill ehlert <ehlert_b at yahoo.com> writes
>
> > See more about the countersuit:
> > http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030926/1148000629_1.html
>
> Be sure to read the part about IBM unwilling to indemnify its
> Linux customers running IBM binaries, at least HP is.

IBM declined to offer indemnification for its customers for a couple reasons.

1.  Indemnification, while sounding warm and fuzzy, offers very little real 
legal protection.  HP's indemnification will only pay for the cost of the 
Linux software purchased from HP.  Extra damages that SCO hypothetically 
would win against that customer would not be covered.

2.  HP requires that customers must not modify their Linux source code in 
order to be covered.  This is a CYA move ensuring that a customer doesn't put 
in infringing code, get sued, then stick the damages on HP.  IBM believes 
that limits the fundamental freedom to modify code that Open Source is about, 
so it won't straitjacket its customers.