In http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-11-10.htm#5 , we discussed how Novell was moving to acquire SUSE, a popular and well-respected Linux distribution. Now, there's this: SCO Seeks to Block Novell-SUSE Deal; SCO May Start Targeting BSD Unixes... SCO is planning to block Novell's acquisition of SUSE Linux on the grounds that it has a non-compete agreement with Novell dating back to its purchase of Unix. The SCO Group has announced it plans to take legal action to block Novell Inc.'s proposed purchase of SUSE Linux AG. The company claims that it has inherited a non-compete agreement, which was part of a broader agreement signed between Novell and one of SCO's ancestors, The Santa Cruz Operation Inc., when Novell sold Unix's intellectual property rights.... Full story: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1387528,00.asp What a mess. With this, plus the other Linux legal hassles (SCO has tossed several huge spanners into the works...), and the moves by RedHat to scale back its free offerings ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-11-06.htm#7 ), it's not a happy time in the Linux community. It probably won't directly affect individual users much in the short term, although the long-term consequences could be major, depending on how SCO's suits go. And the legal mess totally clouds the picture for commercial users: They can no longer be certain that their version of Linux--- or even they themselves--- won't be found in violation of some other company's intellectual property rights. It's really too bad. One of the central attractions of Linux was that it was relatively unencumbered by legal folderol. I'd hate to see Linux sidelined by litigation; or re-absorbed into a completely conventional corporate product mix. Cross your fingers.In http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-11-10.htm#5 , we discussed how Novell was moving to acquire SUSE, a popular and well-respected Linux distribution. -- David C. Johanson Linux Counter # 116410 Powered by SuSE Linux 7.1 People who behold a phenomenon will often extend their thinking beyond it; people who merely hear about the phenomenon will not be moved to think at all. -- Goethe