Scott Handy, IBM director of Linux solutions marketing, software group, told ComputerWire that there has been no change in IBM’s attitude toward Linux, and that the company is still actively behind Linux and continuing to sell it as usual.
Handy said he could not comment directly on whether or not IBM believes SCO to have a case, due to the existing litigation between SCO and IBM. SCO recently launched a $1bn legal action against IBM, accusing it of IP violation and breach of licensing agreements. However, Handy did say that IBM remains extremely comfortable with all of its licensing arrangements.
IBM does not have a Linux distribution of its own like Red Hat Inc, but makes money selling hardware, middleware and services around the Linux operating system. It supports Red Hat and the United Linux initiative platforms, and claims it made $1bn in Linux-related sales in 2002.
IBM has successfully built a community of independent software vendors around Linux, and PeopleSoft is the latest to announce that it will port over 170 of its applications to Linux, with IBM’s WebSphere platform, DB2 database and X Series Intel servers as the reference platform.
Altogether IBM claims that 6,000 of its customers have successfully rolled out Linux applications. Handy said it has 4,800 ISVs lined up offering Linux applications via its web site, 2,538 of which also use IBM software to underpin the application – that could be DB2, Tivoli, WebSphere or Lotus Notes. IBM encourages ISVs to add Linux to their range of supported platforms with the offer of cash to help cover the cost of application porting, additional marketing, and pre- and post-sales support.
IBM joins Red Hat Inc and SuSE Linux AG in dismissing the warnings from SCO Group that Linux may violate its Unix IP. Last week, Lindon, Utah-based SCO suspended sales of its SCO Linux operating system. Linux is an unauthorized derivative of Unix and … legal liability for the use of Linux may extend to commercial users, it warned.
Source: Computerwire
