You know, I hate April Fool's day. With a seething passion. I especially
hate when news breaks on 4/1.
This one actually came to light yesterday, but I just now found out about
it. First, the headline at the site that seems to have broken the news
(watch the word wrap):
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xinuos-sues-ibm-and-red-hat-for-
antitrust-violations-and-copyright-infringement-alleges-ibm-has-been-
misleading-its-investors-since-2008-301259756.html
Now, the headline at the Register:
"IBM, Red Hat face copyright, antitrust lawsuit from SCO Group successor
Xinuos"
https://www.theregister.com/2021/03/31/ibm_redhat_xinuos/
Yes, really, the SCO lawsuit is back from the dead, this time from SCO's successor, Xinuos. Finally, ZDNet also covered it today (which is where I
heard about it, missed it at El Reg):
"SCO Linux FUD returns from the dead"
https://www.zdnet.com/article/sco-linux-fud-returns-from-the-dead/
To summarize, Xinuos (under their previous name, UnXis) bought the Unix IP
and product lines from SCO 10-ish years ago, and now is suing IBM and Red
Hat, despite saying they wouldn't at the time of the purchase:
In 2016, CEO Sean Synder said, "We are not SCO. We are investors who
bought the products. We did not buy the ability to pursue litigation
against IBM, and we have absolutely no interest in that."
[...]
So, what changed? The company appears to have fallen on hard times.
The actual claim is veering toward tinfoil hat territory:
First, IBM stole Xinuos' intellectual property and used that stolen
property to build and sell a product to compete with Xinuos itself.
Second, stolen property in IBM's hand, IBM and Red Hat illegally agreed to
divide the relevant market and use their growing market powers to
victimize consumers, innovative competitors, and innovation itself.
Third, after IBM and Red Hat launched their conspiracy, IBM then acquired
Red Hat to solidify and make permanent their scheme.
I mean, yeah, I wouldn't put it past Big Blue to attempt to monopolize, but
I don't think they would steal IP to do it, and I especially don't think
they would buy another company just to compete with Unix.
The end of the ZDNet article sums it up nicely:
Xinuos has offered no proof of its assertions.
I'm so surprised.
Now, if only pj would bring Groklaw back from the dead. This would be right
up her alley.
--
If it's worth using, it's worth paying for.
If you don't want to pay for it, use something free.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)