A group statement on SCO's actions

[Matthew Frederico]

Great minds ..

On Wed, 2003-05-21 at 16:30, Al Byers wrote:
> I agree that if it is just a letter signed by a bunch of geeks, SCO 
> could probably care less.  But if the letter is associated with an event 
> that draws media coverage (how about a huge signing party), then it 
> might start making a difference.
> 
> We should not take the approach that we cannot make a difference. SCO 
> has endangered our livelihood. If they did it in a straightforward 
> manner it would just be competition, but they refuse to openly state 
> their claim and are attacking Linux by innuendo. If they identified what 
> the offending parts of Linux are, then the community and industry could 
> make an assessment as to whether or not their claim would hold up in 
> court, but they haven't. If we work hard to get public opinion on our 
> side, it could make a difference.
> 
> Also, SCO makes most of their money off of large franchisees and 
> companies that have multiple copies of Unix. If we were to organize a PR 
> campaign in relation to those companies, perhaps SCO would pay attention 
> then.
> 
> -Al
> 
> Steve Roundy wrote:
> 
> >I agree.  I don't think SCO could care less about the few of us who use
> >Linux in Utah County.  Not that our feelings don't or shouldn't matter
> >but the truth is that they don't matter to SCO.  So our statement would
> >likely "fall on deaf ears".
> >
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: pluglist-admin at plug.org [mailto:pluglist-admin at plug.org] On Behalf
> >Of Mitch Anderson
> >Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 2:46 PM
> >To: pluglist at plug.org
> >Subject: Re: A group statement on SCO's actions
> >
> >Personally, I don't really see the need for such a letter... I'm sure
> >SCO has seen the reactions from the community.  Its all over every tech
> >news feed I've seen.  Why continue what others have already done?  The
> >OSI Position Paper I think sums most anything anyone could bring up. 
> >Regardless I don't think any of it is going to change SCO's mind untill
> >the court ruling.
> >
> >My .02 
> >
> >Mitch
> >
> >
> >On Wed, 2003-05-21 at 08:37, Al Byers wrote:
> >  
> >
> >>I floated a similar proposal to this in front of the PLUG list with
> >>    
> >>
> >some 
> >  
> >
> >>positive response. I think the Linux users in the area need to unite
> >>    
> >>
> >and 
> >  
> >
> >>make a statement about SCO's actions. With their agreement with 
> >>Microsoft it makes them look legitimate and if there are not enough 
> >>unified voices in opposition, it can only help their case. Utah Linux 
> >>users should be the most vocal because we have the most to lose. Like 
> >>all other Linux professionals, our access to Linux jobs and general 
> >>interest in and enhancement of Linux will slacken if corporations take
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >  
> >
> >>SCO's bait and shy away from Linux. But more importantly, SCO's
> >>    
> >>
> >actions 
> >  
> >
> >>shame us as a community. Linux is an effort by hardworking programmers
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >  
> >
> >>to be free from control by proprietary vendors. In this regard, we are
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >  
> >
> >>not unlike the pioneers who settled this region. In my opinion, SCO is
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >  
> >
> >>hijaacking this hard work with spurious claims. It is time for us to
> >>    
> >>
> >act 
> >  
> >
> >>responsibly to send a message that we believe the SCO claims to be 
> >>without merit and that this type of business activity does not
> >>    
> >>
> >represent 
> >  
> >
> >>the ethics of the majority in Utah.
> >>
> >>I would like to see a representative from each LUG get together to
> >>    
> >>
> >draft 
> >  
> >
> >>a unified statement that could be signed by members at the LUG
> >>    
> >>
> >meetings. 
> >  
> >
> >>Then I think we should have an event, website, etc. that will be 
> >>press-worthy.
> >>
> >>I could use some help in forwarding this to other Utah LUGs.
> >>
> >>-Al
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >.===================================.
> >| This has been a P.L.U.G. mailing. |
> >|      Don't Fear the Penguin.      |
> >`==================================='
> >
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> >| This has been a P.L.U.G. mailing. |
> >|      Don't Fear the Penguin.      |
> >`==================================='
> >
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
> -- 
> Al Byers
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> 777 S. State St.
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> 
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> 
> .===================================.
> | This has been a P.L.U.G. mailing. |
> |      Don't Fear the Penguin.      |
> `==================================='
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> 
-- 
Matthew Frederico
Unwired Networks
mfrederico at unplugthewire.com
http://www.unwirednetworks.com
--