Intel gets involved in the SCO dispute

By Alun Williams

Posted on 12 Jan 2004 at 15:49

Intel has quietly involved itself in the long-running SCO-IBM-Linux dispute. It has pledged money to help cover the costs of litigation with SCO over the use of Linux.

The Open Source Development Lab (OSDL) has set up a legal fighting fund for the SCO dispute, and the OSDL Linux Legal Defense Fund has been kick-started with $3mn in pledges from a number of companies.

That IBM is one of the contributors is not a surprise, given Big Blue's existing involvement in the legal battle with SCO. What is rather more surprising, at first glance, is that Intel is one of the companies contributing to the legal fund.

Chuck Molloy, corporate spokesperson for Intel, told us that the decision to support the fund was taken at the board level of the OSDL. With Intel being on the board, and an active member, he said it was right they actively support the decision.

In particular, Intel felt it unfair that The SCO Group was refusing to disclose specific details of its infringement claims, thus preventing people from defending themselves.

And of course Intel is involved in the dispute because Intel-based servers are used on many Linux systems. He said that such users were being threatened by SCO's actions: 'We have an obligation to protect the interests of our customers, and of our shareholders.'

He would not disclose the exact amount that Intel had donated, but said that it reflected Intel's 'standing in the industry'. Which means we can fairly assume it is a large proportion of the $3mn donated.

When pressed on whether this was a one-off contribution or whether Intel would increase its involvement, Molloy would only emphasise that Intel is committed to OSDL and would remain actively so.

He also revealed that Intel Corporation itself is one of the companies that has received the infamous letter from SCO, demanding licensing evidence of the Linux systems it uses.

Intel was one of the founding member of OSDL when the organisation was set up back in January 2001, along with HP, NEC, Hitachi and IBM.