I'm sure they've done periodic snapshots of the code base. Most software operations archive the code base for each release. Most commercial unix vendors also ship blocks of source code for various drivers, kernel modules, etc. that would let you do a certain amount of validation that the archive was an accurate representation of the code at the time. The 'origin' is a bit trickier, and it sounds like the code probably had to be written after the whole U of Ca vs AT&T case in the early '90's. The fact that SCO has been unwilling to publically produce the code leads me to suspect that (a) they aren't real confident in their case and (b) their real target is Linux, not IBM. I think their fear is that if they produce supposedly infringing code that it will either be shown not to infringe, or will quickly be replaced in the Linux code base so Linux won't be effected in the long-term. --rick David Blevins wrote: >Right, it's easy to prove dates in regards to open source software, the >world at large can verify the claim. But both parties must verify the >date and origin of "their" code. How can SCO do this? > >-David > >On Thu, Jun 12, 2003 at 08:21:50AM -0500, Mark Browne wrote: > > >>Release dates of open source software and direct comparison of the code in >>question. SCO will be depending on keeping this stuff under wraps to keep >>this exact thing from happening. It is vital that they control courtroom >>presentation of anything not supportive of their point of view, even if it >>is the truth. >> >>Mark Browne >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "David Blevins" <david.blevins at visi.com> >>To: <tclug-list at mn-linux.org> >>Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 1:55 AM >>Subject: Re: [TCLUG] SCO code in Linux >> >> >>On Tue, Jun 10, 2003 at 02:05:28PM -0500, Mike Hicks wrote: >> >> >>>A thought I just had: it's possible that both chunks of code look the >>>same because the authors were working from a reference implementation of >>>a driver or other idea. Maybe the actual origin of the source code is >>>the public domain... >>> >>> >>>I had that thought as well. How does one prove their version came first? >>>What kind of evidence do the courts accept in situations like these? >>> >>> >>>-David >>> >>> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota >>http://www.mn-linux.org tclug-list at mn-linux.org >>https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list >> >> > >_______________________________________________ >TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota >http://www.mn-linux.org tclug-list at mn-linux.org >https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > > > _______________________________________________ TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota http://www.mn-linux.org tclug-list at mn-linux.org https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list