Microsoft's latest attempt to tame the unruly penguin. (First In/First Out).The epic battle between software titan Microsoft and the courageous underdog Linux rages on. The manufacturer of the Windows operating system operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. announced this month--and raised suspicion in the process--that it will license the rights to Unix from SCO (The SCO Group, Lindon, UT, www.sco.com) A leading vendor of Unix operating systems for the x86 platform. SCO had also offered Linux, but abandoned the line in the spring of 2003. The SCO Group is the combination of two companies: Utah-based Caldera, Inc. . "There are many companies in the IT industry who acknowledge and respect the intellectual property of software," said Chris Sontag, senior vice president and general manager for SCO's intellectual property. "With this announcement, Microsoft is clearly showing the importance of maintaining compatibility with Unix and Microsoft's software solutions through their software licensing." Or so Microsoft wants you to believe. The move is actually far less righteous right·eous adj. 1. Morally upright; without guilt or sin: a righteous parishioner. 2. In accordance with virtue or morality: a righteous judgment. 3. than it might first appear to be. Especially considering SCO's recent legal battles with Linux--a direct and more affordable competitor to Windows. In May, it sent out letters to 1,500 companies stating that Linux was an unauthorized derivative of Unix; and that legal liability for the use of Linux may extend to commercial users. To strengthen their position it's also discontinued the sale of its own Linux operating system. IBM--a strong Linux advocate--has also been a victim of the recent attacks by SCO when it was sued for $1 billion, a month ago. The charges pending against Big Blue range from misappropriation misappropriation n. the intentional, illegal use of the property or funds of another person for one's own use or other unauthorized purpose, particularly by a public official, a trustee of a trust, an executor or administrator of a dead person's estate, or by any of trade secrets, tortuous tor·tu·ous adj. Having many turns; winding or twisting. tortuous adjective Referring to complexly twisted thing. Cf Tortious. interference, unfair competition and breach of contract. At the root of the complaint is SCO's accusations that IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) is destroying the economic value of Unix to benefit its Linux services business. Insiders agree that Microsoft's latest strategy to comply with SCO's licensing requirements is merely a way to reinforce their anti-Linux stance--an alternative to the more aggressive propaganda tactics that it has used in the past. It looks as though Microsoft is staying true to its mantra mantra (măn`trə, mŭn–), in Hinduism and Buddhism, mystic words used in ritual and meditation. A mantra is believed to be the sound form of reality, having the power to bring into being the reality it represents. disclosed in the now infamous e-mail sent out last summer to Microsoft employees stating that: "Under no circumstances lose against Linux." www.instat.com |
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