An ACLU For Linux, Jan 13, 2004

The fund will defray legal expenses of Linux end-users (but not developers) involved in litigation with the SCO Group on issues that affect the Linux community and industry. The Beaverton, Ore.-based OSDL aims to raise $10 million for this fund and will accept donations from individuals, organizations and companies. It says it has received $3 million in pledges from companies, including IBM, Intel and MontaVista Software, a privately held supplier of systems software based in Sunnyvale, Calif.

Novell today completed its acquisition of SUSE LINUX, a combination that brings global technical support, consulting and training services and industry-leading networking and security to Linux, and provides a compelling alternative for companies wishing to leverage the many benefits of open source. Novell now offers a full range of enterprise solutions on the Linux platform, from the server to the desktop. The closing of the $210 million cash deal also opens the door for completion of the $50 million investment of IBM in Novell announced Nov. 4.

While government departments remain concerned about the implications of using open source, successful projects have overcome that concern by simply demonstrating better value for money.

That was the message that emerged on the first day of the Linux and Open Source in Government conference in Adelaide, which is preceding the main 2004 Linux.conf.au gathering.

Novell Inc. has decided to follow Hewlett-Packard Co.'s lead and indemnify its enterprise Linux customers against possible legal action by The SCO Group and/or others.

Novell is expected to announce its Linux Indemnification Program late on Monday, sources close to the company told eWEEK. A Novell spokesman would not confirm this, adding that the company does not comment on speculation.

Open-source database company MySQL continues to add capabilities common to commercial database software as it tries to shake up the multibillion-dollar market.

MySQL on Monday introduced an early version of its software, which adds support for "stored procedures," a capability widely used in corporate databases for reusing database queries across different applications.

Microsoft and IBM have squared off in dueling ad campaigns that underscore the rising threat Linux poses to Microsoft, the No. 1 software maker.

Last week, Microsoft launched its first paid ad lambasting Linux, the computer operating system Microsoft executives have long derided. Such barbs have done little to slow Linux's swelling popularity.

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