A group statement on SCO's actions

[Bill Peeler]

OK, i guess I've lurked long enough <g>

my first inclination was to identify some of the big names that are
using SCO products and mail them a letter that I/we will be taking our
business elsewhere, since they use the product of and hence, support
someone who is making a serious attempt to damage our industry.
We would have to include a non technical explanation of what we view is
happening.

For instance, if McDonald's and Burger King both use SCO products, I'd
sure be willing to quit eating there and take my business elsewhere.
There is at least one pizza chain that I've heard uses SCO servers in
each of it's stores, too.

Companies are pretty sensitive to the opinions of it's customers,
especially in a cutthroat industry like fast food.  Doubly especially if
there is some publicity attached to the opinions.  I can just see one
day where one million tech guys go to lunch at Wendy's with the TV
cameras following along...

A well publicized effort would at least get the attention of SCO.

Of course, their customers may well be leaving in droves, already.

If this idea actually worked, the Linux community could volunteer some
time to help McDonald's, et al convert there apps from SCO to Linux.
And then publicize that!

just my US$.02

bill



On Wed, 21 May 2003 15:08:30 -0600
"Steve Roundy" <sroundy at networld.com> 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
> 
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