idiocy

[dep]

Unix developer The SCO Group has filed a law suit against IBM, 
charging it with misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair 
competition and other illegal actions related to IBM's Linux 
business. The suit seeks at least US$1 billion in damages.

IBM obtained its Unix license in 1985 from AT&T, which developed the 
operating system, SCO said in a statement. In 1995 SCO purchased the 
rights and ownership of Unix and so became the successor to the Unix 
licenses doled out by AT&T to IBM, Hewlett-Packard and others, SCO 
said.

In its suit filed Thursday in the State Court of Utah, SCO alleges 
that IBM tried to destroy the economic value of Unix, particularly 
Unix on Intel-based servers, in order to benefit its own Linux 
services business. The suit charges IBM with misappropriation of 
trade secrets, tortious interference, unfair competition and breach 
of contract, SCO said.

SCO, in Lindon, Utah , also said it sent a letter to IBM demanding 
that it cease its allegedly anticompetitive practices. If IBM doesn't 
met it's demands within 100 days of receiving the letter, SCO said it 
has a right to revoke IBM's license for AIX Unix operating system.

IBM could not immediately be reached for comment late Thursday.

SCO claims in its suit to have been injured in the marketplace by 
IBM?s actions and has asked the court for damages of at least $1 
billion, with the amount to be proven at a trial.

SCO announced in January that it had hired a law firm to investigate 
possible violations of its intellectual property.

?SCO is in the enviable position of owning the UNIX operating system,? 
Darl McBride, president and CEO of SCO, said in the company's 
statement. The company believes it has "a compelling case against 
IBM," he said.
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