According to Groklaw, Novell has registered for the copyrights on Unix System V 2, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.2/386, 4.0, 4.1, 4.1ES, 4.1ES/386, 4.2, and 4.2MP with the U.S. Copyright Office during the last four months. Novell's planned acquisition of Suse Linux would make it -- along with Red Hat -- subject to copyright infingement since both vendors provide Linux distributions on the market.
And by early next month, SCO must provide IBM attorneys with the code that Big Blue reportedly donated illegally to the Linux kernel so the judge can verify if the company's claims should move forward in a Utah courtroom.
As the two prepare to face off in Utah court on Jan. 23, SCO will lay bare for attorneys key Linux code it claims IBM illegally donated to the Linux kernel, notably, the Journaling File System (JFS) code, a SCO spokesman said.
And SCO is also awaiting word on Red Hat's counterclaim, which seeks to throw out SCO's legal claims to Linux.
However, SCO's McBride said he is not intimidated by the legal backlash by key Linux vendors and that the company is serious about filing a copyright infringement case against a Linux customer no later than mid February.
