w00t! What a ride!

[Bill Sconce]

SCO's case demolished in last few weeks: they never owned the
copyrights, etc.  Trial scheduled to start today (Sept 17th,
see below).

Microsoft's takeover of ISO thwarted, pro tem, anyway, on Sept 4th,
followed by considerable backlash as the nature of the effort (e.g.,
stacking committees with new members) becomes known.[1]

Six states and the District of Columbia ask a judge on Sept 12th
to extend the terms of Microsoft's antitrust settlement through 2012.
(Parties' filings, and presumably the judge's decision, expected to
be influenced by the then-upcoming EU decision, see below.)[2]

Last Friday, Sept 14th: the sockpuppet collapses: SCO files for
Chapter 11 (asking special attention in its announcement that all
litigants will have to cease and desist: trial averted, but money
nearly gone anyway).  Press is relentless: "SCO threatens business
as usual".

(Saturday: international Software Freedom Day.)

Today, Sept 17th: EU Court of First Instance upholds 2004 decision
against Microsoft, affirms damages, directs publishing of
protocol specifications, rejects "innovation" arguments.[3][4]

A number of strategic projects disintegrating almost at once.
Aspririn selling big in Redmond...

-Bill


________________________________________________________________
[1] 'According to Mr. Alksnis, “the story smells badly."'
  http://eng.cnews.ru/news/top/indexEn.shtml?2007/09/12/265876

[2] Washington Post, September 12.

[3] "There were smiles and laughter from the FSFE and Samba
people. Thomas Vinje, the lead lawyer for ECIS, made a statement
before the cameras. The Microsoft representatives disappeared
without comment."  (From Groklaw, whose server seems to have
gone under for some reason this morning.)

[4] 'FSFE president Greve concludes: "Today's decision has set a
very important precedent for the future. Secret manipulation of
open formats and protocols has clearly been marked as unacceptable
conduct. We now encourage the European Commission take up the recent
antitrust complaint brought forward by ECIS. In a joint effort with
the Samba Team and OpenOffice.org, the FSFE gladly offers its
expertise to the European Commission for that investigation."'
  http://mail.fsfeurope.org/pipermail/press-release/2007q3/000186.html