Microsoft's latest attempt to tame the unruly penguin - First In/First Out

Computer Technology Review, June, 2003 by Louis Raphael

The epic battle between software titan Microsoft and the courageous underdog Linux rages on. The manufacturer of the Windows operating system announced this month--and raised suspicion in the process--that it will license the rights to Unix from SCO.

"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 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 of trade secrets, tortuous interference, unfair competition and breach of contract. At the root of the complaint is SCO's accusations that IBM 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 disclosed in the now infamous e-mail sent out last summer to Microsoft employees stating that: "Under no circumstances lose against Linux."

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