SCO Group has significantly widened its Unix and Linux lawsuit against IBM, adding a copyright infringement claim to the already complicated case, sources said Thursday.
The Lindon, Utah-based company amended its claims against IBM on the eve of a hearing about what information Big Blue needs to disclose to SCO, one of numerous steps along the path to a scheduled trial date of April 11, 2005. Copyright infringement is a major new element to SCO"s current accusations that IBM breached its contract with SCO and misappropriated trade secrets by moving technology developed for proprietary Unix to open-source Linux. The case has injected some uncertainty into a computing industry that for the most part has eagerly embraced Linux, but analysts such as IDC say the suit doesn"t appear to have slowed the operating system"s growth.
SCO spokesman Blake Stowell declined to comment on the expanded legal attack--the company"s second amended complaint against IBM--other than to say SCO plans a news announcement after Friday"s hearing. However, in a Dec. 5, 2003, hearing, SCO attorneys said the company planned to add a copyright infringement claim. And in a Wednesday filing with the court, SCO attorneys sought permission to amend their current charges against IBM.