IBM destroyed evidence claims SCO

Stan Beer
Monday, 24 July 2006 20:47

IT Industry - Strategy

The court battle that has been raging since 2003 since SCO Group and IBM over the alleged misappropriation of SCO's Unix code took another twist recently. SCO has accused IBM of ordering its Linux developers to deliberately destroy evidence.

According to SCO, IBM directed Linux developers to delete IBM versions of Unix, AIX and Dynix, source code from their computers.

SCO's case against IBM hinges upon a rift between IBM and SCO emanating out of a collaborative venture in 1998 called Project Monterey. SCO and IBM, with the support of Intel were to develop a Unix port for the Intel 64-bit Itanium system.

However, the collaboration fell apart and in 2000 IBM began to support Linux development. Three years later, SCO launched a US$5 billion legal action against IBM claiming that Unix code owned by SCO was illegally used by IBM in its contribution to Linux development.

So far, judges presiding in the case have not been sympathetic to SCO's cause.

In a ruling earlier this month, 182 claims against IBM were dismissed by a Utah District Court magistrate. Howwver, there are still 112 claims outstanding that SCO has against IBM.