Author: Hristo
Date: 21:29:03 03/01/04
Go up one level in this thread
On March 02, 2004 at 00:02:16, Russell Reagan wrote: >On March 01, 2004 at 22:06:01, Robert Hyatt wrote: > >>On March 01, 2004 at 16:41:48, margolies,marc wrote: >> >>>corporate redhat linux user antes up... >>>http://www.computerworld.com/governmenttopics/government/legalissues/story/0,10801,90646,00.html >> >> >>This is _not_ a big deal. In fact, it is already all over but the shouting. >> >>AT&T has produced a document, written in 1985, that _clear_ says that it agrees >>that _all_ software developed by others and contributed to the Unix project >>remains the property of the _developer_. Novell bought the rights from AT&T, >>which included that clause. SCO bought it from Novell. Now SCO gets to choke >>on it for a few years, but it will _never_ get what it wants now. >> >>This is effectively over. > >I'm confused. The software belongs to the developer. What does that mean in this >situation? Who is the developer? Are there multiple developers (AT&T, then >Novell adds some, then SCO adds some...)? Ownership doesn't get passed on with >"buying the rights"? Only the ability to sell it? Or... something else? > >I thought the dispute was more over who copied from whom. So if what you're >saying is that SCO doesn't actually own the code in question, that just means >that someone else can go after commercial linux users, as far as I can see. > >I guess I'm not seeing how the statement "the software belongs to the developer" >solves the situation, unless you wouldn't mind clarifying and correcting my >confusion :) If you develop something for unix, lets say a new file system, then that new file system belongs to you and not to the copyright holder of unix. You are free to do as you please with your own code, so you can "contribute" or use your code on other platforms and OS, without any limitations and or responsibilities with respect to whoever owns the unix copyright at that time. SCO, would like to have it the other way, i.e. if you have developed "anything" for unix Sys V then your code doesn't belong just to you, but it also belongs to them. They assert that they, SCO, have a legitimate claim and can control the extent to which you can use your own code. I hope this makes the situation a bit clearer. Regards, Hristo
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