WhiteWolf666's Journal: Send SCO a cease and desist letter!!!

If you have contributed to a linux kernel, 2.4.19, or higher, I suggest you send this letter to SCO.

You can e-mail it, you can print it out and mail it, whatever.

SCO is in violation of the GPL, in regards to 2.4.19 and higher? Why do I say that?

Because they no longer distribute the source. I've made a request that they issue the source to me, but I don't believe that they will.

They still provide binaries, however. This is, in my mind, a simple, cut and dry problem on their part.

They need to stop providing linux, completely. Otherwise, they are in violation of the GPL.

And even if they beat the GPL in court, then they are in violation of copyright.

Close and Shut, people. You can easily stop this licensing scheme. Use the power of slashdot. Anyone who has ever submitted even the tiniest patch to the kernel.

The SCO Group
355 South 520 West
Suite 100
Lindon, Utah 84042 USA
801-765-4999 phone
801-765-1313 fax
ATTN:Chris Sontag, Senior VP and General Manager, SCOSource

Re: Infringements of Linux Kernel Copyrights

Mr. Sontag:

                    As you are no doubt aware, the Linux Kernel is distributed under the GPL. The Linux Kernel is not, and has never been, public domain. The GPL provides certain distribution rights, assuming one remains in compliance with it. If distributor does not maintain GPL complaince, or the GPL itself is rendered void, the original authors retain all rights. These rights are protected by copyright.

                    I have recently learned that your company, SCO (formerly Caldera) is attempting to sublicense portions of the Linux Kernel under an non-GPL compatible license. As you may not be aware, the GPL specifically precludes any distributor from sublicensing any code that has been distributed under its terms. As a reminder:

4. You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Program except as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt otherwise to copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program is void, and will automatically terminate your rights under this License. However, parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under this License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such parties remain in full compliance.

                    Based upon the foregoing, I hereby demand that you cease and desist from distributing the Linux Kernel, and from selling licenses to the Linux Kernel, and that you confirm to me in writing within ten days of receipt of this notice that you have removed all infringing materials from your site and that you will refrain from distributing any Linux product until you have accepted the terms of the GPL in full.

                    No portion of this notice should be interpreted as granting any distribution rights for the Linux Kernel outside those granted by the GPL.

Very truly yours,
(insert name here)