Here's Novell's Answer to SCO's Second Amended Complaint and Counterclaims [PDF] as text, followed by a chart showing the two documents side by side, matching up the paragraphs so you can see what answers what. It's a lot of work, and we have Groklaw member "knew" to thank for it. I'm very glad to have it. Thank you. Keep in mind that most of SCO's claims against Novell seem headed for arbitration. So, in paragraph 28, Novell says that "venue is not proper for those SCO claims that raise issues subject to arbitration under the UnitedLinux agreements signed by Caldera in May 2002." It says this about jurisdiction: 25. Novell admits that the Court has jurisdiction over SCO's copyright claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a). However, SCO's copyright claim raises issues subject to arbitration under the contracts that SCO's alleged predecessor-in-interest, Caldera, signed in May 2002 in becoming a member of UnitedLinux (the "UnitedLinux agreements"). The Court should not exercise its jurisdiction until after these issues are finally adjudicated by arbitration. In this regard, Novell has simultaneously filed a motion to stay these proceedings, pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act. Let me explain the significance of Novell saying that, as I see it.
Jurisdiction and Venue
My legal dictionary defines jurisdiction like this: the power to hear and determine a case....Without jurisdiction, a court's judgment is void. A court must have both subject matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction..... Subject matter jurisdiction refers to the competency of the court to hear and determine a particular category of cases. Federal district courts have "limited" jurisdiction in that they have only such jurisdiction as is explicitly conferred by federal statutes. So, if I file to get a divorce in bankruptcy court, they will tell me I've got the wrong court. Bankruptcy court has no authority to grant or deny divorces. And if a contract states that all disputes must be handled by arbitration, then a district court isn't the place to bring a dispute. Jurisdiction is talking about which court has authority to decide a claim. It's that simple. Venue means the place where the trial should happen. There might be more than one venue that could be appropriate. As the dictionary explains venue: ... synonymous with "place of trial." It refers to the possible or proper place or places for the trial of a suit, as among several places where jurisdiction could be established.... "Jurisdiction deals with the authority of the court to exercise judicial power. Venue deals with the place where that power should be exercised. Jurisdiction over the subject matter cannot be conferred by the parties, and the lack thereof may not be waived. Venue, on the other hand, is bottomed on convenience, and improper venue may be waived." So venue is where a trial should be heard, based on factors in the law. Jurisdiction is which court has authority to hear a claim. We saw in AutoZone a dispute about venue, with AutoZone saying it had a lot of witnesses that would find it a lot more convenient to have the trial in the East. Either federal court would have jurisdiction, but venue was an issue that came up. And indeed venue can be based on the convenience of witnesses. It can also be based on a contract. We saw in the dispute over Project Monterey, when SCO tried to file a 3rd Amended Complaint that IBM pointed out that any disputes, according to the contract, had to be heard in New York, not Utah, so a contract can specify venue, and in fact they normally do. In New York State, venue normally is where either party resides, or if neither does, where either works or transacts business. So, to illustrate, let's say my husband and I agreed to get a divorce, and we agree we'd like to file our divorce action in the bankruptcy court located in New York. We can't, even though we agreed to do it. That court still isn't the right court because it lacks subject matter jurisdiction over divorces, and either the court has authority or it doesn't. We can't, as the parties, confer jurisdiction on a court. But with venue, we might be able to work something out. Let's say he lives in Westchester County and works in Rockland County, and I don't live in Westchester County any more, because I stormed out after a fight and moved to upstate New York, to Albany. I work in New York City though (I commute by helicopter or Scotty beams me up and down every day). Where do I file the divorce? I have choices. I could file in Westchester County, Rockland County, New York City, or Albany. Because I am staying with a sick relative in Buffalo, though, I'd like to file there, because it will be easier for me. If he and I agree, I can file the divorce action there in Buffalo, even though it's not the right place, or venue. If he doesn't agree, though, and I file in Buffalo, he can object that it's not the proper venue to get it transferred. I'm making up all the details in the scenario, by the way, just to explain venue to you. I don't have a helicopter. My point is that Novell here is saying that both venue is improper and that while jurisdiction is proper -- federal courts do have jurisdiction over copyright claims, obviously -- but that certains aspects of the copyright claim are supposed to be handled by arbitration, under the terms in the UnitedLinux agreements. The motion to stay is asking that everything in Utah wait while the arbitration goes first, not for permission to arbitrate. So, if you compare this Novell answer with its earlier one, looking for changes, which is what I've just been doing, when you reach the counterclaims section, you'll note some changes in the wording in the paragraphs on Jurisdiction and Venue. The significance is this:
while it has filed a motion to stay, Novell isn't asking the court's permission to take those claims to arbitration, merely asking it to wait until the arbitration is done before going forward. It's an important distinction. I've seen some say that they hope the Utah court agrees to let Novell arbitrate. But what Novell here is saying is that Utah isn't the right place or the right court to hear some aspects of SCO's claims, that they say are subject to arbitration. So it is not asking the court's permission to arbitrate, just that the court wait while some aspects of the copyright claim are decided in arbitration first. We can't see the UL agreements, because they are under seal, so it's not possible to say much about that. But presumably SCO can challenge the assertion that arbitration should go first or that the agreements require arbitration at all, depending on how well-crafted the agreements are. The ICC rules for arbitration, as we saw already, are pretty clear about what happens then. What Else is New? There are new affirmative defenses since Novell's original Answer with Counterclaims, which is logical since SCO added new claims against Novell in its Second Amended Complaint. So Novell's 9th through the 17th affirmative defenses are new and they are:
Misuse of Copyright, Fraud on the Copyright Office, Independent Creation, Fair Use, License, Implied License, Waiver, Abandonment and Forfeiture, and Obligation to Arbitrate. Novell also raises an issue regarding which law applies to SCO's unfair competition claims, which I'll write about separately, but you'll see begining with paragraph 122 that this is the subject of a separate motion by Novell: 122. SCO does not sufficiently plead its Fifth Claim for Relief for Unfair
Competition, having failed to specify the "applicable unfair-competition law"
that Novell is alleged to violate. Therefore, Novell is without sufficient
information to reasonably frame a response to this averment. Novell has
simultaneously filed a Motion for More Definite Statement of SCO's Unfair
Competition Cause of Action. Novell is asking that SCO provide more information. Good luck with that, I can hear IBM (and you) saying. I also note that in paragraph 7 under the counterclaims, Novell states that it got all the copyrights from AT&T. If you were with us back in 2003, you'll remember some speculation that possibly AT&T had retained some copyrights, but here Novell is saying that didn't happen. There is one other new detail. If you compare Novell's first Answer with Counterclaims with this one, you'll notice that in discussing the Asset Purchase Agreement between Novell and Santa Cruz, Novell says that Santa Cruz purchased a number of things, including the right to develop a "Merged Product," and it adds in paragraph 14 on page 22 that this merged product would be "a derivative work that would run on Intel platforms." And the parties don't agree about what the deal was about:
Para | SCO | Novell |
40 |
At the time of the execution of the APA, Novell was a leading networking software company. Because it had developed its flagship networking product, Netware, to work on the UNIX operating system, Novell needed and requested the right to distribute trivial portions of the UNIX source code embedded in Netware. |
Novell admits that it was a leading provider of networking and application software when the APA was executed. Novell further admits that it developed its Netware product to provide integrated client support for UNIX, DOS, MS Windows, Macintosh, and OS/2 operating systems. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 40 is denied. |
41 |
Accordingly, with the sole intent of accommodating these requests by Novell, the parties to the APA agreed that Santa Cruz would license back to Novell "all the technology included in the Assets" transferred by the APA, as well as "all derivatives of the technology included in the Assets" (collectively, "the Licensed Technology"), subject to certain broad limitations.. |
Denied. |
42 |
To protect the value to Santa Cruz of the transferred UNIX and UnixWare assets, the APA and TLA each contained a non-compete provision, whereby Novell covenanted not to use the Licensed Technology to compete with SCO's core operating-system products. |
Denied. |
43 |
Section 1.6 of the APA provides in part:
Seller agrees that it shall use the Licensed Technology only (i) for internal purposes without restriction or (ii) for resale in bundled or integrated products sold by Seller which are not directly competitive with the core products of Buyer and in which the Licensed Technology does not constitute a primary portion of the value of the total bundled or integrated product.
|
Novell admits that Section 1.6 of the APA contains the text quoted by the Second Amended Complaint, in addition to other language not quoted by SCO. |
44 |
Similarly, under Section II.A.(2) of the TLA, Novell is permitted to distribute and sublicense "such Licensed Technology and modifications thereof," provided that
(i) such technology and modifications may be sublicensed and/or distributed by NOVELL solely as part of a bundled or integrated offering ("Composite Offering"); (ii) such Composite Offering shall not be directly competitive with core application server offerings of SCO, and (iii) the Licensed Technology shall not constitute a primary portion of the value of such Composite Offering.
|
Novell admits that Section II.A.(2) of the Technology License Agreement contains the text quoted by the Second Amended Complaint, in addition to other language not quoted by SCO.
|
45 |
The "core products" and "core application server offerings" referenced in the APA and TLA, respectively, refer to the UNIX and UnixWare operating systems owned by Santa Cruz upon the closing date. Even before acquiring the UNIX source code, Santa Cruz had been primarily involved in the business of distributing UNIX in binary form, so that with the acquisition of the UNIX and UnixWare source code and copyrights, the UNIX and UnixWare operating systems undoubtedly represented Santa Cruz's "core products." In addition, as of the closing date, Santa Cruz had no "application server offering" other than UNIX and UnixWare operating systems.
|
Novell is without sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of the averment that "as of the closing date, Santa Cruz had no 'application server offering' other than UNIX and UnixWare operating systems." Each and every other allegation in paragraph 45 is denied.
|
I note that Novell identifies Caldera as SCO's "purported predecessor-in-interest" and I surely wish I could see the UL agreements. You'll see it in paragraph 3 under the heading "Jurisdiction" in the Counterclaims section beginning on page 21. We've always known that there is an issue as to whether Santa Cruz is SCO's predecessor-in-interest, and indeed Novell's answer opens up highlighting that issue, as did Novell's original Answer. But this is calling Caldera SCO's purported predecessor-in-interest. The UnitedLinux agreements were signed by Caldera, not the SCO Group.
Note finally that the pagination follows the document, not the PDF. Novell didn't count the cover page as page one and the first page of text is number page 1 instead of the usual page 2, so the PDF is one page different from the document itself. *****************************
MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP
Michael A. Jacobs (pro hac vice)
Kenneth W. Brakebill (pro hac vice)
[address, phone, fax]
ANDERSON & KARRENBERG
Thomas R. Karrenberg, #3726
John P. Mullen, #4097
Heather M. Sneddon, #9520
[address, phone, fax]
Attorneys for Novell, Inc.
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF UTAH, CENTRAL DIVISION
|
THE SCO GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation,
Plaintiff and Counterclaim- Defendant,
vs.
NOVELL, INC., a Delaware corporation,
Defendant and Counterclaim- Plaintiff.
|
NOVELL, INC.'S ANSWER TO SCO'S SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT
AND COUNTERCLAIMS
Case No. 2:04CV00139
Judge Dale A. Kimball
|
ANSWER
In response to Plaintiff Counterclaim-Defendant The SCO Group, Inc.'s
("SCO") Second Amended Complaint filed February 3, 2006, Defendant
Counterclaim-Plaintiff Novell, Inc. ("Novell") pleads as follows:
1. Novell admits that it entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with SCO's
alleged predecessor in interest, The Santa Cruz Operation ("Santa Cruz"),
dated September 19, 1995. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 1 is
denied.
2. Denied.
3. Denied.
4. Novell admits that it sold certain business assets relating to its UNIX
and UnixWare software products to Santa Cruz. In consideration for this sale,
Novell received 6.1 million shares of Santa Cruz common stock and retained
significant rights relating to Novell's UNIX business, including but not
limited to, certain intellectual property rights, the right to receive
royalties, fees, and amounts due under SVRX license agreements, prior approval
right relating to new SVRX licenses and amended licenses, the right to take
certain actions relating to SVRX licenses, and the right to conduct audits of
the SVRX license program. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 4 is
denied.
5. Novell admits that Attachment E to the Asset Purchase Agreement provided
a list of approximately 106 copyright registrations. Novell denies that
Attachment E, alone or in connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement,
transferred any UNIX or UnixWare copyrights to SCO. Each and every other
allegation in paragraph 5 is denied.
6. Novell admits that SCO has registered a claim to UNIX and UnixWare
copyrights with the United States Copyright Office. Each and every other
allegation in paragraph 6 is denied.
1
7. Novell admits that Novell has registered its claim to UNIX and UnixWare
copyrights with the United States Copyright Office. Each and every other
allegation in paragraph 7 is denied.
8. Novell admits that it has, in good faith, publicly stated its belief
that it owns UNIX and UnixWare copyrights. Each and every other allegation in
paragraph 8 is denied.
9. Denied.
10. Denied.
11. Novell admits that Novell and Santa Cruz entered into a Technology
License Agreement ("TLA") at the time of the APA's closing. Each and every
other allegation in paragraph 11 is denied.
12. Denied.
13. Novell admits that it entered into an agreement to acquire SuSE Linux in
2003 and that it completed this acquisition in 2004, thereby becoming a
distributer of SuSE Linux. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 13 is
denied.
14. Denied.
15. Novell admits that it retained significant rights under Section 4.16 of
the APA, including the right to receive royalties, fees, and amounts due under
SVRX license agreements, but denies that any of its 4.16 rights are limited to
"then-existing SVRX licensees for their distribution of binary-code versions
of System V pusuant to sublicensing agreements." Novell admits that, under
APA Sections 4.16, 1.2(b) and 1.2(f), it retained the right to direct or take
certain actions to protect this royalty stream. Each and every other allegation
in paragraph 15 is denied.
16. Denied.
17. Denied.
18. Denied.
2
19. Denied.
20. Novell admits that the APA includes a provision providing that the
parties will take any further action necessary or desirable to carry out the
purposes of the APA. Novell denies that this provision, or any other provision
in the APA, operates to support a transfer of the UNIX or UnixWare copyrights
to SCO. Novell denies each and every other allegation in paragraph 20.
21. Novell denies that SCO is entitled to any relief under its Second Amended
Complaint, and each and every other allegation in paragraph 21 is therefore
denied.
22. Admitted.
23. Admitted.
24. Admitted.
25. Novell admits that the Court has jurisdiction over SCO's copyright claim
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a). However, SCO's copyright
claim raises issues subject to arbitration under the contracts that SCO's
alleged predecessor-in-interest, Caldera, signed in May 2002 in becoming a
member of UnitedLinux (the "UnitedLinux agreements"). The Court should not
exercise its jurisdiction until after these issues are finally adjudicated by
arbitration. In this regard, Novell has simultaneously filed a motion to stay
these proceedings, pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act.
26. Admitted.
27. Admitted.
28. Admitted, except that venue is not proper for those SCO claims that raise
issues subject to arbitration under the UnitedLinux agreements signed by
Caldera in May 2002.
29. Novell admits that Schedule 1.1(a) to the APA contains the text quoted by
the Second Amended Complaint. Novell denies that this text acted to transfer
UNIX or UnixWare copyrights to SCO. Each and every other allegation in
paragraph 29 is denied.
3
30. Novell admits that the TLA and a Bill of Sale were executed in connection
with the closing of the APA. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 30
is denied.
31. Novell admits that Section 1.6 of the APA contains the text quoted by the
Second Amended Complaint and that this text granted Novell a broad license.
Novell denies that this text act to transfer UNIX or UnixWare copyrights to
SCO. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 31 is denied.
32. Denied.
33. Denied.
34. Novell states that these averments purport to characterize the laws of
the United States and do not require a response. Each and every other allegation
in paragraph 34 is denied.
35. Denied.
36. Denied.
37. Novell denies that it has made any false oath, misleading public
representation, or wrongful assertion of ownership rights, and on that basis
denies each and every other allegation in paragraph 37, except as set forth
below:
a) Novell admits that on May 28, 2003 Jack Messman sent a letter
to Darl McBride of SCO in order to assert Novell's claim to the UNIX and
UnixWare copyrights and to protect Novell's interests and the interests of
its customers. This letter contained the following text:
Importantly, and contrary to SCO's assertions, SCO is not the owner of
the UNIX copyrights. Not only would a quick check of U.S. Copyright Office
records reveal this fact, but a review of the asset transfer agreement between
Novell and SCO confirms it. To Novell's knowledge, the 1995 agreement
governing SCO's purchase of UNIX from Novell does not convey to SCO the
associated copyrights. We believe it unlikely that SCO can demonstrate that it
has any ownership interest whatsoever in those copyrights. Apparently, you
share this view, since over the last few months you have repeatedly asked
Novell to transfer the copyrights to SCO, requests that Novell has rejected.
Finally, we
4
find it telling that SCO failed to assert a claim for copyright
or patent infringement against IBM.
...
[W]e demand that SCO retract its false and unsupported assertions of
ownership in UNIX patents and copyrights or provide us with conclusive
information regarding SCO's ownership claims.
On January 13, 2004, Novell made a copy of this letter available on its
website at http://www.novell.com/licensing/indemnity/legal.html. Novell is
without further knowledge as to details of other publication and therefore
denies each and every other allegation related thereto. Each and every other
allegation in paragraph 37(a) is denied.
b) Novell admits that on June 6, 2003, SCO sent Novell a letter pertaining
to Amendment 2 and the Asset Purchase Agreement. Each and every other
allegation in paragraph 37(b) is denied.
c) Novel admits that on June 6, 2003, it issued a press release containing
the following text:
In a May 28th letter to SCO, Novell challenged SCO's claims to UNIX
patent and copyright ownership and demanded that SCO substantiate its
allegations that Linux infringes SCO's intellectual property rights.
Amendment #2 to the 1995 SCO-Novell Asset Purchase Agreement was sent to
Novell last night by SCO. To Novell's knowledge, this amendment is not
present in Novell's files. The amendment appears to support SCO's claim that
ownership of certain copyrights for UNIX did transfer to SCO in 1996. The
amendment does not address ownership of patents, however, which clearly remain
with Novell.
Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(c) is denied.
d) Responding to a threat by SCO to sue Novell for federal securities fraud
conveyed in SCO's June 6, 2003 letter, Novell admits that Joseph LaSala sent
a letter to Darl McBride on June 6, 2003, containing the following text:
Your letter contains absurd and unfounded accusations against Novell
and others, coupled with a veiled threat to publically state
5
those allegations
in a SCO press call to be held today at 11:00 am EST. Novell continues to
demand that SCO cease and desist its practive of making unsubstantiated
allegations, including the allegations contained in your letter of June 6,
2003.
Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(d) is denied.
e) Responding to a subsequent press release issued by SCO, Novell admits
that Joseph LaSala sent a letter to Darl McBride on June 26, 2003, containing
the following text:
SCO's statements [claiming to own "the patents, copyrights, and core
technologies associated with the UNIX system"] are simply wrong. We
acknowledge, as noted in our June 6 public statement, that Amendment No. 2 to
the Asset Purchase Agreement appears to support a claim that Santa Cruz
Operation had the right to acquire some copyrights from Novell. Upon closer
scrutiny, however, Amendment No. 2 raises as many questions as it answers.
Indeed, what is most certainly not the case is that "any question of
whether UNIX copyrights were transfered to SCO as part of the Asset Purchase
Agreement was clarified in Amendment No. 2" (as SCO stated in its June 6 press
release). And there is no indication whatsoever that SCO owns all the
patents associated with UNIX or UnixWare.
We are still reviewing the Asset Purchase Agreement and other materials
to determine the actual scope of rights transferred to SCO. In the meantime,
we wish to make clear that we do not agree with SCO's public statement on this
matter.
Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(e) is denied.
f) SCO subsequently registered claims to the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights
with the United States Copyright Office. Responding to that registration,
Novell admits that Joseph LaSala sent a letter to Darl McBride on August 4,
2003, containing the following text:
We dispute SCO's claim to ownership of these copyrights. The Asset
Purchase Agreement, in Schedule 1.1(b), contains a general exclusion of
copyrights from the assets transferred to Santa Cruz Operation. Amendment
No. 2 provides an exception to that exclusion, but only for
"copyrights...required for [Santa Cruz Operation] to exercise its rights with
respect to the acquisition of UNIX and UnixWare technologies."
6
In other words, under the Asset Purchase Agreement and Amendment No. 2,
copyrights were not transferred to Santa Cruz Operation unless SCO could
demonstrate that such a right was "required for [Santa Cruz Operation]" to
exercise the rights granted to it in the APA. Santa Cruz Operation has never
made such a demonstration, and we certainly see no reason why Santa Cruz
Operation would have needed ownership of copyrights in UNIX System V in order
to exercise the limited rights granted SCO under the APA. Nor is there any
reason to think that a transfer of the copyrights required for SCO to
exercise its APA rights necessarily entails transfer of the entire set of
exclusive rights associated with a particular copyrighted computer program.
Unless and until SCO is able to establish that some particular copyright
right is "required" for SCO to exercise its rights under the APA, SCO's
claim to ownership of any copyrights in UNIX technologies must be rejected,
and ownership of such rights instead remains with Novell.
Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(f) is denied.
g) Responding to SCO's copyright registrations, Novell admits that it has
registered its claim to the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights enumerated in
paragraph 19(g). Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(g) is
denied.
h) Admitted.
i) In response to a public claim by SCO that Novell had conceded the
superiority of SCO's claim to the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights, Novell admits
it issued a press release on December 22, 2003, containing the following
text:
Novell believes it owns the copyrights in UNIX, and has applied for
and received copyright registrations pertaining to UNIX consistent with that
position. Novell detailed the basis for its ownership position in
correspondence with SCO. Copies of our correspondence, and SCO's reply, are
available here. Contrary to SCO's public statements, as demonstrated by this
correspondence, SCO has been well aware that Novell continues to assert
ownership of the UNIX copyrights.
Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(i) is denied.
j) On Janurary 13, 2005 Novell announced a Linux Indemnification Program. In
connection with this offer, Novell issued a press release clarifying its
beliefs as to
7
its legal rights concerning the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights.
The press release contained the following:
Novell also made available today additional information on the
unique contractual and intellectual property rights it holds because of its
position in the historical ownership chain of UNIX and UnixWare. These rights
include:
- Novell's rights to license UNIX technology pursuant to a Technology
License Agreement between SCO and Novell, including Novell's right to
authorize its customers to use that UNIX technology in their internal
business operations.
Novell's rights to take action on behalf of SCO under legacy UNIX SVRX
licenses pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement between SCO and Novell.
As previously confirmed by Novell, copyright registrations on UNIX SVRX
releases, consistent with Novell's position that it retained ownership of
these copyrights.
Copies of relevant correspondence between Novell and SCO are available at
http://www.novell.com/licensing/indemnity/legal.html. The rights reflected in
these documents are part of the foundation for the indemnification program
Novell is announcing today.
Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(j) is denied.
k) Admitted.
38. Denied.
39. Novell denies that it has made any wrongful claims of copyrights and
ownership in UNIX and UnixWare and that SCO is entitled to any relief under
its Second Amended Complaint, and each and every other allegation in
paragraph 39 is therefore denied.
40. Novell admits that it was a leading provider of networking and
application software when the APA was executed. Novell further admits that it
developed its Netware product to provide integrated client support for UNIX,
DOS, MS Windows, Macintosh, and OS/2 operating systems. Each and every other
allegation in paragraph 40 is denied.
41. Denied.
42. Denied.
8
43. Novell admits that Section 1.6 of the APA contains the text quoted by the
Second Amended Complaint, in addition to other language not quoted by SCO.
44. Novell admits that Section II.A.(2) of the Technology License Agreement
contains the text quoted by the Second Amended Complaint, in addition to other
language not quoted by SCO.
45. Novell is without sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth
of the averment that "as of the closing date, Santa Cruz had no 'application
server offering' other than UNIX and UnixWare operating systems." Each and
every other allegation in paragraph 45 is denied.
46. Novell admits that it announced its agreement to acquire SuSE Linux,
a leading distributer of Linux, on November 4, 2003. Each and every other
allegation in paragraph 46 is denied.
47. Novell admits that on December 22, 2005 SCO filed a Disclosure of
Material Misused by IBM in the SCO v. IBM litigation. Novell is
without sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of the
remaining averments of paragraph 47.
48. Denied.
49. Denied.
50. Novell admits that Linux has matured due to the independent,
collaborative efforts of a devoted Linux development community. Each and every
other allegation in paragraph 50 is denied.
51. Denied.
52. Denied.
53. Novell admits that it retained significant rights under Section 4.16 of
the APA, including the right to receive royalties, fees, and amounts due
under SVRX license agreements, but denies that any of its 4.16 rights are
limited to "then-existing SVRX licensees for their
9
distribution of
binary-code versions of System V pursuant to sublicensing agreements." Each
and every other allegation in paragraph 53 is denied.
54. Novell admits that it retained significant audit rights under APA
Sections 1.2(b) and 1.2(f). Each and every other allegation in paragraph 54 is
denied.
55. Denied.
56. Novell admits that in conjunction with Novell's offer to acquire SuSE
Linux AG, on March 23, 2004, it entered into a definitive agreement with IBM
in which IBM purchased 1,000 shares of Novell Series B redeemable preferred
shared convertible into 8 million shares of Novell common stock at a price of
$6.25 per share, with the Series B shares being entitled to a dividend of
2% per annum, payable quarterly in cash. Novell admits that the quoted text
appears in Jack Messman's letter to Darl McBride dated May 28, 2003. Novell
further admits that it is one of IBM's Linux distributors. Each and every
other allegation in paragraph 56 is denied.
57. Denied.
58. Denied.
59. Novell admits that, on October 10, 2003, following SCO's failure to take
the actions directed in Novell's June 9, 2003 and June 12, 2003 letters to
SCO, Novell elected to take actions on SCO's behalf, as Novell is empowered
to do under § 4.16(b) of the APA. Each and every other allegation in
paragraph 59 is denied.
60. Novell admits that it alleges SCO failed to comply with its royalty
obligations under §§ 1.2(b), 1.2(f) & 4.16 of the APA in
connection with SCO's 2003 agreements with Sun Microsystems and Microsoft and
its SCOsource intellectual property agreements. Each and every other
allegation in paragraph 60 is denied.
61. Denied.
62. Denied.
10
63. Novell admits that pursuant to its APA rights, Novell, acting on its
behalf and on behalf of Santa Cruz, entered into an agreement with IBM on
April 26, 1996, amending various license agreements between IBM and AT&T
(the "IBM-AT&T Agreements"), pertaining to certain releases of UNIX System
V software. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 63 is denied.
64. Novell admits that Alok Mohan of SCO sent a letter to Bob
Frankenberg of Novell on April 23, 1996, containing the quoted text. Each and
every other allegation in paragraph 64 is denied.
65. Novell admits that Novell, Santa Cruz, and IBM executed an agreement
referred to as "Amendment X" that replaced and was substantially similar to
the April 26, 1996 Agreement. Like the April 26, 1996 Agreement, Amendment X
provided that IBM's rights under the IBM-AT&T Agreements (including
relating to source code) are irrevocable, fully paid-up, and perpetual, such
that Novell and Santa Cruz no longer had any termination right with respect
IBM's rights under these agreements. Amendment X also provided that, under the
APA, Novell retained certain rights relating to the IBM-AT&T Agreements.
SCO received a qualified right to have an independent accounting firm audit
IBM's pertinent records. IBM agreed to pay $10,125,000 as consideration for
Amendment X. Novell denies each and every other allegation in paragraph 65.
66. Novell admits that Amendment X contains the quoted text. Each and every
other allegation in paragraph 66 is denied.
67. Denied.
68. Denied.
69. Novell admits that Novell and Santa Cruz executed Amendment No. 2 to
the APA on the same day they executed Amendment X. Section B of Amendment
No. 2, which was to govern potential buy-outs of an SVRX licensee's royalty
obligations occurring after the
11
execution of Amendment X, contains the
quoted text. Novell denies each and every other allegation in paragraph 69.
70. Denied.
71. Denied.
72. Denied.
73. Novell admits that Novell and Santa Cruz entered into the TLA at the
time of the APA closings. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 73
is denied.
74. Denied.
75. Denied.
76. Denied.
77. Novell admits that during the years between the signing of the APA and
May 2003, it retained (and still does retain) ownership of the UNIX and
UnixWare copyrights. SCO acknowledged Novell's copyright ownership during
this time period of time, as SCO repeatedly requested in 2002 and 2003
that Novell amend the APA and transfer the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights to
SCO. Novell is without sufficient information to form a belief as to the
truth of the remaining averments of paragraph 77.
78. Novell admits that in 2000, Santa Cruz entered into an agreement with
Caldera Systems whereby Caldera acquired Santa Cruz's UNIX server solutions
and services divisions. Novell further admits that in 2001, Caldera
International was formed as a holding company to own Caldera Systems,
including the former Santa Cruz UNIX Server Solutions and Services Assets.
Novell denies each and every other allegation in paragraph 78.
79. Novell admits that between the signing of the APA and May 2003, Novell
conducted one audit pursuant to section 1.2(b) of the APA. Novell denies each
and every other allegation in paragraph 79.
80. Denied.
12
81. Novell admits that the law firms that represented Novell and Santa Cruz
in negotiating and executing the APA, Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich &
Rosati and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, respectively, also
represented Santa Cruz and Caldera, respectively, during the subsequent
transfer of certain Santa Cruz assets to Caldera. Novell denies each and every
other allegation in paragraph 81 to the extent they purport to evidence an
understanding by or knowledge of the parties to the APA or in the software
industry that SCO owned and freely exercised copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare.
82. Denied.
83. Novell admits that it has alleged in this lawsuit that the APA and its
Amendments do not constitute writings sufficient to have transferred copyrights
under section 204(a) of the Copyright Act. Each and every other allegation
in paragraph 83 is denied.
84. Novell admits that Novell and Santa Cruz agreed to the provisions set
forth in sections 1.7(c), 4.9, and 4.12 of the APA. To the extent that SCO
believes these provisions support a transfer of the UNIX and UnixWare
copyrights from Novell to SCO, each and every other allegation in paragraph
84 is denied.
85. Novell admits that the APA contains the quoted text in Paragraph 85.
86. Novell admits that the APA contains the quoted text in Paragraph 86.
87. Novell admits that the APA contains the quoted text in Paragraph 87.
88. Denied.
89. Novell re-incorporates its answers to all prior paragraphs as if fully
set forth here in full.
90. Denied.
91. Denied.
92. Denied.
93. Denied.
13
94. Denied.
95. Denied.
96. Novell re-incorporates its answers to all prior paragraphs as if fully
set forth here in full.
97. Denied.
98. Denied.
99. Denied.
100. Denied.
101. Novell re-incorporates its answers to all prior paragraphs as if fully
set forth here in full.
102. Denied.
103. Denied.
104. Denied, to the extent that SCO alleges that APA sections 1.7(c), 4.9
and 4.12 support a transfer of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights from Novell
to SCO.
105. Admitted.
106. Novell admits that, under the APA, it retained the right to take, or
direct SCO to take, certain actions, such as waiving SCO's claim to
terminate the IBM SVRX Licenses. Each and every other allegation in
paragraph 106 is denied.
107. Denied.
108. Denied.
109. Novell re-incorporates its answer to all prior paragraphs as if fully
set forth here in full.
110. Denied.
111. Denied.
112. Denied.
14
113. Denied.
114. Denied.
115. Novell cannot admit or deny this statement because it purports to
characterize the law of the United States.
116. Denied.
117. Denied.
118. Denied.
119. Denied.
120. Denied.
121. Novell re-incorporates its answers to all prior paragraphs as if fully
set forth here in full.
122. SCO does not sufficiently plead its Fifth Claim for Relief for Unfair
Competition, having failed to specify the "applicable unfair-competition law"
that Novell is alleged to violate. Therefore, Novell is without sufficient
information to reasonably frame a response to this averment. Novell has
simultaneously filed a Motion for More Definite Statement of SCO's Unfair
Competition Cause of Action.
123. SCO does not sufficiently plead its Fifth Claim for Relief for Unfair
Competition, having failed to specifiy the "applicable unfair-competition law"
that Novell is alleged to violate. Therefore, Novell is without sufficient
information to reasonably frame a response to this averment. Novell has
simultaneously filed a Motion for More Definite Statement of SCO's Unfair
Competition Cause of Action.
124. SCO does not sufficiently plead its Fifth Claim for Relief for Unfair
Competition, having failed to specify the "applicable unfair-competition law"
that Novell is alleged to violate. Therefore, Novell is without sufficient
information to reasonably frame a response to this
15
averment. Novell has
simultaneously filed a Motion for More Definite Statement of SCO's Unfair
Competition Cause of Action.
125. SCO does not sufficiently plead its Fifth Claim for Relief for Unfair
Competition, having failed to specify the "applicable unfair-competition law"
that Novell is alleged to violate. Therefore, Novell is without sufficient
information to reasonably frame a response to this averment. Novell has
simultaneously filed a Motion for More Definite Statement of SCO's Unfair
Competition Cause of Action.
126. SCO does not sufficiently plead its Fifth Claim for Relief for Unfair
Competition, having failed to specify the "applicable unfair-competition law"
that Novell is alleged to violate. Therefore, Novell is without sufficient
information to reasonably frame a response to this averment. Novell has
simultaneously filed a Motion for More Definite Statement of SCO's Unfair
Competition Cause of Action.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
127. Novell states that the enumerated paragraphs 1-7 following SCO's Prayer
for Relief include requests for relief as to which no response is required. To
the extent a response is required, Novell denies that SCO is entitled to the
requested or any relief.
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES
128. Novell also hereby asserts the following seperate defenses to the
Second Amended Complaint, and each of its purported causes of action, without
assuming any burden of proof on such defenses that would otherwise rest with
SCO:
FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Privilege)
129. SCO's First Claim for Relief is barred due to absolute and conditional
privileges enjoyed by Novell.
16
SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Estoppel)
130. SCO's Second Amended Complaint, and each of its purported causes of
action, is barred, in whole or in part, by the equitable doctrine of estoppel.
THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Unclean Hands)
131. SCO's Second Amended Complaint, and each of its purported causes of
action, is barred by the doctrine of unclean hands.
FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Laches)
132. SCO's Second Amended Complaint, and each of its purported causes of
action, is barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrine of laches.
FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Comparative Fault)
133. To the extent that SCO did sustain any damages, which Novell denies,
such damages were caused, in whole or in part, by the comparative fault of
SCO and/or third parties, which thus bars SCO's recovery for said damages or
diminishes such recovery by the amount of fault attributable to SCO and/or
those third parties.
SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Failure to Mitigate)
134. To the extent that SCO did sustain any damages, which Novell denies,
such damages were caused, in whole or in part, by SCO's failure to mitigate
any damages it may have suffered, which failure to mitigate bars and/or
diminishes SCO's right to any relief against Novell.
17
SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (No Causation)
135. To the extent SCO has suffered any injury or damage, which Novell denies,
such injury or damage was not proximately caused by any conduct or inaction
of Novell, or was not foreseeable, or both.
EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (U.S. Const. Amend. I)
136. SCO's First and Fifth Claims for Relief are barred, in whole or in part,
by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Misuse of Copyright)
137. SCO's Fourth Claim for Relief is barred, in whole or in part, by the
doctrine of copyright misuse.
TENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Fraud on the Copyright
Office)
138. SCO has engaged in fraud on the copyright office in that it
intentionally made false, material representations in its applications for
registration of copyrights involving UNIX and UnixWare.
ELEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Independent Creation)
139. SCO's Fourth Claim for Relief is barred, in whole or in part, by the
doctrine of independent creation.
TWELFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Fair Use)
140. SCO's Fourth Claim for Relief is barred, in whole or in part, by the
doctrine of fair use.
18
THIRTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (License)
141. SCO's Second Amended Complaint, and each of its purported causes of
action, is barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrine of license, including
but not limited to the licenses created by the UnitedLinux agreements,
the General Public License, and the TLA.
FOURTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Implied License)
142. SCO's Second Amended Complaint, and each of its purported causes of
action, is barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrine of implied license.
FIFTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Waiver)
143. SCO's Second Amended Complaint, and each of its purported causes of
action, is barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrine of waiver.
SIXTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Abandonment and
Forfeiture)
144. SCO's Fourth Claim for Relief is barred by the doctrines of copyright
abandonment and forfeiture.
SEVENTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Obligation to
Arbitrate)
145. SCO's Second Amended Complaint, and each of its purported causes of
action, raises arbitrable issues under the UnitedLinux agreements that SCO
is obligated to arbitrate.
WHEREFORE, Novell prays for judgement as follows:
146. That SCO take nothing by the Second Amended Complaint;
147. That the Court enter judgment in favor of Novell and against SCO,
dismissing with prejudice the Second Amended Complaint and each of its causes
of action;
148. That the Court award Novell its reasonable expenses and costs incurred,
including without limitation attorneys' fees, in defending against the
Second Amended Complaint; and
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149. That the Court grant Novell such other and further relief to which
Novell may be entitled as a matter of law or which the Court deems just and
proper.
COUNTERCLAIMS
Novell re-alleges those counterclaims it previously pled on July 29, 2005
against SCO, as follows:
PARTIES
1. Counterclaim-plaintiff Novell, Inc. ("Novell") is a Delaware corporation
that was incorporated in 1983. Its headquarters and principal executive offices
are located in Waltham, Massachusetts. Novell's principle product development
facility is located in Provo, Utah. Novell also has offices in numerous cities
worldwide.
2. Counterclaim-defendant The SCO Group, Inc. ("SCO") is a Delaware
corporation with its principle place of business in Utah County, State of Utah.
JURISDICTION
3. This Court has original jurisdiction over SCO's Second Amended Complaint
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a). However, SCO's copyright
claim raises issues subject to arbitration under the contracts the SCO's
alleged predecessor-in-interest, Caldera, signed in May 2002 in becoming a
member of UnitedLinux (the "UnitedLinux agreements"). The Court should not
exercise its jurisdiction until after these issues are finally adjudicated by
arbitration. In this regard, Novell has simultaneously filed a motion to stay
these proceedings, pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act.
4. This Court has jurisdiction over Novell's counterclaims pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1331 (federal question), 28 U.S.C. § 1338(a) (arising
under the Federal Copyright Act), 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a) (supplemental
jurisdiction) and 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201(a) and 2202 (declaratory
judgement). Novell's slander of title claim involves questions of, and arises
under, federal law.
20
This Court has supplemental jurisdiction over Novell's
state law claims of breach of contract, accounting, restitution and slander
of title.
VENUE
5. Venue is proper in this judicial district pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§§ 1391(b), 1391(c) and 1400(a), in that SCO resides or may be
found in this district and is subject to personal jurisdiction in this
district, except that venue is not proper for those SCO claims that raise
issues subject to arbitration under the UnitedLinux agreements signed by
Caldera in May 2002.
FACTS
A. UNIX
6. UNIX is the name of a computer operating system originally developed
beginning in the late 1960s by a group of software engineers at AT&T's
Bell Laboratories. Over time, AT&T licensed its UNIX family of operating
systems to universities, corporations, other entities and individuals.
7. In 1993 AT&T sold its UNIX assets, held by its subsidiary UNIX
System Laboratories ("USL"), to Novell. This transfer of assets to Novell
included UNIX copyrights, trademarks and all active UNIX licensing
agreements, including contracts relating to the most recent versions of the
UNIX operating system called UNIX System V. At the time there had been several
major releases of System V, including Releases 1, 2, 3 and 4, also referred to
as SVR1, SVR2, SVR3 and SVR4, or generically as SVRx.
B. Linux
8. Linux is the name of a computer operating system, originally developed
beginning in the early 1990s when Linus Torvalds, an undergraduate student at
the University of Helsinki, began writing the Linux kernel, or the core of
the Linux operating system. He released the first version of the Linux kernel
on the Internet in 1991. Since then, thousands of software programmers around
the world have engaged in a collaborative effort to further develop Linux.
21
9. Linux was developed as open-source software and has become a popular
alternative to proprietary operating systems. Unlike with other major
operating systems, the underlying source code of Linux is available to the
public.
C. The Asset Purchase Agreement Between Novell and The Santa Cruz
Operating, Inc.
10. In 1995, Novell and a company called The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
("Santa Cruz") entered into negotiations over the sale of certain business
assets of Novell relating to its UNIX and UnixWare software products.
11. Santa Cruz was a California corporation that was incorporated in 1979.
It was founded as a UNIX system porting and consulting company and began to
ship its first product, a packaged version of the UNIX operating system, in
1983. In 1993 Santa Cruz completed an initial public offering and became a
publicly-listed company on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange.
12. On September 19, 1995, Novell and Santa Cruz executed an Asset Purchase
Agreement ("APA"). The APA provided each party with certain rights and
obligations.
13. The parties entered into two Amendments to the APA. On December 6, 1995,
Novell and Santa Cruz executed "Amendment No. 1." Novell and Santa Cruz
subsequently executed "Amendment No. 2" on October 16, 1996.
14. Under the APA and its Amendments, Santa Cruz obtained a variety of
assets, including assignment of tens of thousands of contracts and licenses,
various trademarks, source code and binaries to UnixWare products, and
physical assets such as furniture and personal computers. Santa Cruz also
obtained the right to develop a "Merged Product," a derivative work that
would run on Intel platforms.
15. Santa Cruz did not have the financial capacity to pay the purchase price
contemplated by Novell for these acquired assets and rights. In order to bridge
the price gap and consummate the transaction, Novell and Santa Cruz agreed
that Novell would receive Santa Cruz stock and retain certain rights as
protection. For example (and as discussed further below),
22
Novell retained the
right to receive royalty payments under SVRX licenses, prior approval rights
relating to new SVRX licenses and amended SVRC licenses, the right to direct
Santa Cruz to take certain actions relating to SVRX licenses and the right to
conduct audits of the SVRX license program. Santa Cruz assumed several
related obligations.
16. One such obligation that Santa Cruz assumed under the APA was
responsibility for administering the collection of royalty payments from
SVRX licenses. The APA provided that Santa Cruz shall collect and pass through
to Novell 100% of the SVRX royalties. In return, Novell agreed to pay Santa
Cruz an administrative fee of 5% of those royalty amounts. Santa Cruz also
agreed to pay additional royalties relating to other products.
17. Novell retained certain assets under the APA. Schedule 1.1(b), which
lists "Excluded Assets" under the agreement, specifies that Novell retained
"all copyrights and trademarks, except for the trademarks UNIX and UnixWare,"
"all patents," and "all right, title and interest to the SVRX Royalties, less
the 5% fee for administering the collection thereof."
18. Novell also retained rights to supervise Santa Cruz's administration of
SVRX licenses. Novell retained the "sole discretion" to direct Santa Cruz to
amend, supplement, modify, waive or assign any rights under or to the SVRX
licenses; if Santa Cruz fails to take any such action, the APA specifically
granted Novell the right to take these actions on behalf of Santa Cruz.
Novell retained the right to veto Santa Cruz's attempts to amend SVRX licenses,
subject to two exceptions, as noted below. Novell also retained the right to
veto Santa Cruz's attempts to enter into new SVRX licenses, subject to one
exception, as noted below.
19. The APA gave Novell the right to confirm Santa Cruz's compliance with
its contractual obligations under the SVRX licensing program. The APA
explicitly provided that Novell "shall be entitled to conduct periodic audits"
of Santa Cruz "concerning all royalties and payments due to Seller hereunder
or under the SVRX Licenses." The APA required Santa Cruz to "diligently seek
to collect all such royalties, funds and other amounts when due" and to
23
"investigate and perform appropriate auditing and enforcement." The APA also
required Santa Cruz to provide Novell monthly reports detailing the SVRX
royalties it received.
20. Novell and Santa Cruz were the only parties to the APA and its
Amendments. SCO was not a party to the APA or its Amendments. SCO was
originally incorporated on August 21, 1998 as a company called Caldera
Systems, a developer and provider of Linux-based business solutions. SCO
purports to be the successor in interest to Santa Cruz under the APA and its
Amendments. This dispute is about Novell's rights under the APA and whether
SCO breached its obligations as the alleged successor of Santa Cruz.
D. Novell's Ownership of the UNIX Copyrights
21. The APA transferred certain assets from Novell to Santa Cruz. However,
as specified by Section V.A of Schedule 1.1(b) to the APA, certain assets
were excluded from the transfer. Among the "Excluded Assets" from the APA
asset transfer were "[a]ll copyrights and trademarks, except for the
trademarks UNIX and UnixWare."
22. The APA as executed on September 19, 1995 therefore does not transfer
any copyrights.
23. Novell and Santa Cruz later executed Amendment No. 2 to the APA.
Amendment No. 2 modifies Section V.A of Schedule 1.1(b) to provide that
Excluded Assets include:
All copyrights and trademarks, except for the copyrights and trademarks
owned by Novell as of the date of the Agreement required for SCO to
exercise its rights with respect to the acquisition of UNIX and UnixWare
technologies.
24. Neither Amendment No. 2 nor the APA as modified by Amendment No. 2 were
intended to, nor do they actually, transfer ownership of the UNIX or UnixWare
copyrights owned by Novell at the time of the APA and its Amendments
("UNIX Copyrights").
24
25. Neither Amendment No. 2 nor the APA as modified by Amendment No. 2
qualify as "an instrument of conveyance, or a note or memorandum of the
transfer" under 17 U.S.C. § 204(a) for at least the following reasons:
a. Amendment No. 2 merely amends the schedule of excluded assets and
therefore does not, itself, constitute a transfer of any asset.
b. Neither Amendment No. 2 nor the modified APA identifies "the copyrights
and trademarks owned by [Novell] as of the date of the Agreement required for
Santa Cruz to exercise its rights with respect to the acquisition of UNIX
and UnixWare technologies."
c. Neither Amendment No. 2 nor the modified APA contains any language
suggesting a contemporaneous transfer of any copyright. To the contrary, the
APA provides only that certain assets "will" be transferred.
d. Neither Amendment No. 2 nor the modified APA provides a date for any
purported transfer of copyrights.
26. Title to the UNIX Copyrights therefore remains with Novell.
27. By and during early 2003, SCO repeatedly asked Novell to transfer the
UNIX Copyrights to SCO. In doing so, SCO conceded that title to the UNIX
Copyrights remains exclusively with Novell. Novell rejected all of SCO's
requests.
E. The Sale of Certain Santa Cruz Assets to Caldera Systems
28. During the second quarter of its fiscal year 2000, Santa Cruz
restructured its business into three divisions: the Server Software division,
the Professional Services division and the Tarantella division. The Server
Software division included Santa Cruz's UNIX-related business.
29. On August 1, 2000, Santa Cruz entered into an agreement with Caldera
Systems, under which Caldera Systems acquired Santa Cruz's Server Software
and Professional Services
25
divisions. With the acquisition, Caldera Systems
planned to add Santa Cruz's UNIX server solutions and services to its
Linux business.
30. On May 7, 2001, pursuant to an amendment to the agreement between
Santa Cruz and Caldera Systems, Caldera International ("Caldera") was formed
as a holding company to own Caldera Systems, including the assets, liabilities
and operations of Santa Cruz's Server Software and Professional Services
divisions.
F. Caldera's Financial Woes and Its Shift in Business Strategy
Under New Leadership
31. Prior to Caldera's acquisition of Santa Cruz's Server Software and
Professional Services divisions, substantially all of Caldera's revenue was
derived from sales of Linux products and services. However, Caldera had been
unsuccessful in creating a profitable Linux business.
32. After the acquisition of Santa Cruz's Server Software and Professional
Services dividions, most of Caldera's total revenue came from UNIX products
and services, ranging from 90 to 95% of Caldera's revenue during fiscal years
2001 and 2002. But Caldera's revenue from the sale of UNIX-based products
declined in the fiscal quarters following the acquisition. Caldera
experienced significant decreases in actual and forecasted revenue of the
acquired Santa Cruz operations.
33. Caldera incurred substantial financial losses during its fiscal years
2000, 2001 and 2002. Caldera suffered losses from operations totaling $32
million in 2000, $133 million in 2001 and $24 million in 2002.
34. In June 2002, Caldera hired Darl McBride as its President and Chief
Executive Officer. Mr. McBride was responsible for the company's
strategic direction and planning.
35. On our about the time of Mr. McBride's arrival at Caldera, Caldera
began to pursue a new business strategy for the company, launching a
rebranding effort of its products and services as well as its corporate
image.
26
36. On August 26, 2002, Caldera announced that it would change its name to
The SCO Group, Inc. ("SCO"), pending shareholder approval. On or about that
time, Caldera then began doing business as SCO. Caldera soon thereafter
changed it trading symbol on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange from "CALD" to "SCOX."
Caldera's name change was formalized on May 16, 2003, when Caldera's
shareholders approved an amendment to Caldera's certificate of incorporation
that changed the company's name to SCO.
37. As part of Caldera's rebranding efforts and shift in business strategy,
Caldera purportedly initiated a review of its intellectual property rights.
This effort culminated in the launching of a licensing initiative, which it
called SCOsource, in January 2003. SCOsource, as described in further detail
below, was an effort by Caldera to expand the revenue base of a company that
had never before been profitable.
G. SCO's Requests to Novell to Participate in a Licensing Scheme
and To Transfer the UNIX Copyrights
38. In late 2002, SCO repeatedly contacted Novell in connection with SCO's
soon-to-be-announced SCOsource campaign. SCO requested copies of certain
documentation concerning rights to UNIX, including the agreement between
Novell and Santa Cruz. SCO also expressed its interest in a campaign to
assert UNIX infringement claims against users of Linux. SCO asked Novell to
partner with SCO in a Linux licensing program, under which SCO contemplated
extracting a license fee from Linux end users to use the UNIX intellectual
property purportedly contained in Linux. Novell refused to participate.
39. In aid of its scheme, SCO requested that Novell transfer its UNIX
Copyrights to SCO and thereby acknowledged that it did not own the UNIX
Copyrights. SCO contacted Novell on multiple occasions by and during early
2003. For example, SCO's CEO, Darl McBride, repeatedly contacted Novell and
asked Novell to amend the Novell-Santa Cruz agreement to give SCO the UNIX
Copyrights. Novell rejected all of these requests.
27
H. SCO's Scheme To Claim Ownership of the UNIX Copyrights
40. Notwithstanding Novell's rejections, SCO embarked on an aggressive
campaign in which it falsely asserted ownership over these copyrights via
public statements, a series of letters to Linux end users, several lawsuits
against Linux distributors and end users, and a licensing program
purporting to offer SCO's Intellectual Property Licenses for Linux.
41. SCO's misleading and wrongful public assertions of ownership include
the following:
a. On March 7, 2003, SCO stated in a press release, "In 1995, SCO
purchased the rights and ownership of UNIX and UnixWare that had been
originally owned by AT&T. This included source code, source documentation,
software development contracts, licenses and other intellectual property
that pertained to UNIX-related business. ... 'SCO is in the enviable position
of owning the UNIX operating system,' said Darl McBride, president and CEO,
SCO."
b. On May 14, 2003, SCO stated in a press release, "[SCO], the owner of
the UNIX operating system, today warned that Linux is an unauthorized
derivative of UNIX and that legal liability for the use of Linux may extend
to commercial users."
c. On June 6, 2003, SCO stated in a press release, "[SCO], the owner of
the UNIX® operating system, today confirmed its previously stated
ownership of UNIX copyrights. As SCO has consistently maintained, all rights
to the UNIX and UnixWare technology, including the copyrights, were
transferred to SCO as part of the Asset Purchase Agreement between Novell and
SCO dated September 19, 1995. Any question of whether the UNIX copyrights were
transferred to SCO under the Assert Purchase
28
Agreement was clarified in
Amendment No. 2 to the Asset Purchase Agreement dated October 16, 1996.
'This amendment simply confirms SCO's long stated position that it owns all
copyrights associated with the UNIX and UnixWare businesses,' said Chris
Sontag, senior vice president and general manager, SCOsource intellectual
property division, SCO.
...
'SCO is the owner of the UNIX operating system, as well as all of the UNIX
contracts, claims and copyrights necessary to conduct that business,' said
Sontag. 'None of the litigation we are currently involved with asserts claims
based on copyrights. Because others have called into question SCO's ownership
of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights, we are satisfied that we have now proven
without a doubt that SCO owns those copyrights.'"
d. During at least June and July, 2003, SCO wrongfully registered
copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare releases owned by Novell. These registrations
related to UNIX System V release 3.0, UNIX System V release 3.1, UNIX System V
release 3.2, UNIX System V release 3.2/386, UNIX System V release 4.0,
UNIX System V release 4.1, UNIX System V release 4.1ES, UNIX System V release
4.2, UNIX System V release 4.2MP, and UnixWare 7.1.3.
e. On January 13, 2004, SCO stated, "[SCO] today reiterated its ownership
of UNIX intellectual property, source code, claims and copyrights and has made
all of the documents surrounding the companies' ownership of UNIX and UnixWare
available for public viewing at www.sco.com/novell."
29
f. On January 28, 2004, in its Form 10-K filed with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission, SCO stated, "We own the UNIX operating
system and are a provider of UNIX-based products and services.
...
We acquired our rights to the UNIX source code and derivative works and
other intellectual property rights when we purchased substantially all of
the assets and operations of the server and professional services groups of
The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc., in May 2001. The Santa Cruz Operation
(now know as Tarantella, Inc.) had previously acquired such UNIX source code
and other intellectual property rights from Novell in September 1995, which
were initially developed by AT&T Bell Labs. Through this process, we
acquirewd all UNIX source code, source code license agreements with thousands
of UNIX vendors, all UNIX copyrights, all claims for violation of the above
mentioned UNIX licenses and copyrights and other claims, and control over
UNIX derivative works...."
42. As part of SCO's scheme to claim ownership of the UNIX copyrights, SCO
has falsely claimed that Novell acquiesced to SCO's claims. For example, on
July 21, 2003, Darl McBride stated in a public interview:
Interviewer:
Well, Novell would say that you actually don't own those copyrights fully.
McBride:
Yeah, well, the Novell thing, they, they came out and made a claim that
held up for about four days and then we put that one to bed. If you go talk
to Novell today, I'll guarantee you what they'll say, which is they don't
have a claim on those copyrights.
30
43. Novell has not acquiesced to SCO's claims, as recited in SCO's own
Amended Complaint. (Amended Complaint ¶ 19(d)-(e).) To the contrary,
Novell was vigorously contesting those claims in private correspondence with
SCO at the very same time SCO was publically claiming otherwise. For example:
a. On May 12, 2003, SCO's CEO Darl McBride sent Novell a letter
asserting that it owned the UNIX copyrights and that Linux end users were
infringing those copyrights.
b. On May 28, 2003, Novell's CEO, Jack Messman, responded by letter,
asserting in no uncertain terms that "SCO is not the owner of the UNIX
copyrights."
c. After SCO registered its claim to the UNIX copyrights with the U.S.
Copyright Office, Novell's General Counsel, Joseph LaSala wrote to SCO,
again disputing its claim to ownership of the copyrights. In his August 4,
2003, letter, LaSala stated, "We dispute SCO's claim to ownership of these
copyrights."
44. In September and October 2003, Novell attempted to protect its rightful ownership
of the UNIX Copyrights, and to correct SCO's erroneous registrations claiming
ownership, by filing its own copyright registrations.
I. SCO's Scheme To Extract Licensing Fees from Novell, the Linux
Community and UNIX Vendors
45. A significant aspect of SCO's rebranding efforts and new business
strategy was its adoption of a scheme to extract "licenses" from the UNIX and
Linux communities based on claims to own intellectual property specifically
reserved to Novell, i.e., the UNIX Copyrights. SCO proceeded on its own in
this scheme after Novell rebuffed SCO's overtures to participate.
31
46. On January 22, 2003, SCO publicly announced its licensing scheme as
part of its "SCOsource" program. In connection with this announcement, SCO's
CEO, Darl McBride, commented that "SCO owns much of the core UNIX
intellectual property, and has full rights to license this technology and
enforce the associated patents and copyrights."
47. Under the SCOsource licensing program, SCO seeks to enter into license
agreements with UNIX vendors and offers Intellectual Property Licenses to
Linux end users ("Intellectual Property Licenses"). The purported purpose of
these licenses is to allow UNIX vendors to use SCO's UNIX intellectual property
and to permit Linux end users to "properly compensate us for our UNIX
intellectual property as currently found in Linux." One term of SCO's
Intellectual Property Licenses for Linux is that licensees "will be held
harmless against past and future copyright violations based on their use of
SCO's intellectual property ... in Linux distributions...."
48. SCO charges a sizeable licensing fee for SCO's Intellectual
Property Licenses for Linux. For example, for a server with 8 CPUs, the initial
licensing fee is $4,999, with $1,079 payable every year after that.
49. As part of its SCOsource initiative, SCO filed a lawsuit against IBM
on Marcch 7, 2003, asserting, among other things, UNIX Copyrights that SCO
does not own. SCO has alleged that it owns the UNIX Copyrights and that IBM's
contributions to Linux and use of Linux infringe these copyrights.
50. As part of the SCOsource program, SCO entered into at least two
license agreements. These licenses related to the use of UNIX technology by
the licensees. The first of these licenses was with Sun Microsystems, Inc.
("Sun"). The second license was with Microsoft Corporation ("Microsoft") and
purportedly covers Microsoft's UNIX compatibility products. On information
and belief, through these licenses SCO broadened the rights of Sun and
Microsoft to use SVRX code.
32
51. The Sun and Microsoft licenses resulted in significant revenue for SCO
and produced the first profitable quarter in SCO's history. During the fiscal
quarter ended April 30, 2003, SCO recognized $8,250,000 in revenue from these
two new licenses. In addition, these licenses accounted for $25,846,000 of
SCO's revenue in fiscal year 2003.
52. As part of the SCOsource program, in May 2003, SCO sent letters to 1,500
of the world's largest corporations threatening suit based on its alleged
ownership of the UNIX Copyrights ("End Users Letters"). On May 12, 2003, SCO
sent one of these letters to IBM, and sent another letter to Novell. On
information and belief, all of the End User Letters were nearly identical in
content to the IBM and Novell letters.
53. In the End User Letters, SCO made the false and misleading
statement that "SCO holds the rights to the UNIX operating system software
originally licensed by AT&T to approximately 6,000 companies and
institutions worldwide (the 'UNIX Licenses')."
54. In the End User Letters, SCO also made the unsupported assertion that
"We [SCO] have evidence that portions of UNIX System V software code have been
copied into Linux and that additional other portions of UNIX System V software
code have been modified and copied into Linux, seemingly for the purposes of
obfuscating their original source."
55. After setting forth these alleged facts in the End User Letters, SCO
erroneously concluded that "Linux infringes on our UNIX intellectual
property and other rights." According to SCO, end users of Linux were liable
for this alleged infringement whether or not they participated in any
contribution of UNIX System V software code into Linux.
56. As set forth in detail above, besides sending the End User Letters,
SCO has made numerous public statements that it owns the UNIX Copyrights and
that end users of Linux are liable for infringement of those copyrights. For
instance, contrary to the express terms of the APA, SCO has stated on its
website that "only SCO is in a position to license the use of this infringing
intellectual property." The Court itself has noted SCO's "barrage of public
statements
33
about pursuing alleged infringers of its alleged intellectual
prroperty." The SCO Group Inc. v. Intl'l Bus. Machs., Case No.
2:03CV294 DAK, Memorandum Decision and Order at 5 (Feb. 9, 2004).
57. Shortly after the inception of its letter writing campaign, SCO brought
suit against Autozone and Daimler Chrysler, both Linux end users. In these
lawsuits, SCO has made substantially the same allegations as set forth in its
letters. In the Autozone lawsuit, SCO has made substantially the same
allegations as set forth in it letters. In the Autozone lawsuit, SCO has
alleged that "[Autozone] uses one or more versions of the Linux operating
system technology." In the Daimler-Chrysler lawsuit, SCO has alleged that
Daimler-Chrysler's use of the Linux operating system violates the UNIX
license between Daimler-Chrysler and SCO.
58. Novell has established a Linux Indemnification Program under which it
offers indemnification for copyright infrigement claims made by third parties
against qualifying, registered Novell customers of the SUSE LINUX Enterprise
Server 8, SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9, SUSE LINUX Retail Solution, and
Novell Linux Desktop products.
59. SCO has continued to pursue its SCO source initiative with other
industry participants that it believes will lead to additional licensing
agreements. On information and belief, via this campaign, SCO has convinced
several Linux end users to participate in its licensing program, obtaining
purported licenses to use "SCO's intellectual property contained in Linux,"
and thereby avoid suit by SCO. In fiscal year 2004, SCO generated additional
revenue from sales of its SCOsource Intellectual Property Licenses.
J. SCO's Breaches of the Asset Purchase Agreement
60. SCO's misguided campaign has led SCO to breach various obligations that
Santa Cruz assumed under the APA and its Amendments.
61. Novell has performed its obligations under the APA and its
Amendments.
34
62. SCO or Santa Cruz has received adequate consideration for its duties
under the APA and its Amendments.
Breach of Section 1.2(b)'s and 1.2(f)'s Audit Provisions
63. Section 1.2(b) of the APA gives Novell broad audit rights relating to
the administration of the SVRX licensing program. It reads in pertinent part:
[Novell] shall be entitled to conduct periodic audits of [SCO]
concerning all royalties and payments due to [Novell] hereunder or under the
SVRX Licenses, provided that [Novell] shall conduct such audits after
reasonable notice to [SCO] and during normal business hours and shall not be
entitled to more than two (2) such audits per year.
64. Further, section 1.2(f) of the APA obligates SCO to provide Novell
monthly reports detailing the SVRX royalties that SCO received.
65. On July 11, 2003 Novell notified SCO that it intended to conduct an
audit beginning on August 18, 2003 covering the period beginning January 1,
1998 through June 30, 2003.
66. By reply correspondence dated July 17, 2003, SCO accepted Novell's
right to an audit. Novell's audit began during the week of August 25, 2003.
67. As part of Novell's aforementioned audit rights, on Novemeber 21, 2003,
Novell sought the following categories of information and documentation
relating to:
a. Any amendments and modifications to SVRX licenses, and in particular
the amendments to the Sun and Microsoft SVRC licenses. Novell specifically
requested (1) "copies of the Sun and Microsoft amendments to verify SCO's
compliance" with the APA and (2) "a detailed explanation of SCO's positions"
if SCO contends that either of the two exceptions to the prohibition on
unilateral amendments by SCO were applicable.
b. Any buy-out of SVRX licenses, and in particular any information
concerning any buy-out of Sun's and Microsoft royalty obligations
35
under their
SVRX licenses. Novell specifically requested that SCO identify any
potential buy-out transactions so that Novell could verify SCO's compliance
with the APA.
c. Any new SVRX licenses, and in particular SCO's Intellectual Property
Licenses for Linux. Novell specifically requested (1) "copies of all SCO
Intellectual Property Licenses for Linux, and any other agreements connected
with attempts by SCO to enter into new SVRX Licenses, so Novell can verify
SCO's compliance" with the APA and (2) "a detailed explanation of SCO's
position" if SCO contends that the exception to the prohibition on new SVRX
licenses by SCO was applicable.
d. Any SVRX to UnixWare Conversions. Novell specifically requested that
SCO (1) identify and provide documentation for any allegedly valid
conversions and (2) "explain in detail" how the alleged conversion complies
with the APA and (3) provide "a detailed explanation of SCO's position" if
SCO contends that any of the exceptions to the prohibition on conversion by
SCO were triggered.
68. Novell renewed its November 21, 2003 demand on December 29, 2003 and
again on February 4, 2004.
69. On February 5, 2004, SCO conveyed its refusal to provide the information
identified in Paragraph 68.
70. On March 1, 2004, Novell again contacted SCO for the above categories
of information: "In order to complete our audit, we need the Sun, Microsoft
and any other Intellectual Property Licenses for Linux. Stated more
categorically, we need all agreements in which SCO purported to grant rights
with respect to Unix System V." Novell noted that SCO's
36
Intellectual
Property Licenses for Linux appeared to be SVRX Licenses since they purported
to grant rights relating to UNIX System V or UnixWare.
71. Novell again sent a letter to SCO on April 2, 2004 urging a response.
72. On November 17, 2004, Novell contacted SCO yet again:
We have communicated with SCO several times about our concerns with
SCO's handling of UNIX licenses, including the license with Sun. In these
communications, we have noted that our audit rights under the Asset Purchase
Agreement require SCO to provide Novell with copies of any UNIX agreements
(including amendments) SCO has reached with Sun. We have sent you letters
twice on this issue (in March and April 2004), and have not received an
adequate response.
...
Accordingly, we must once again insist that you provide us with copies of
any agreements with Sun (including amendments) that relate to UNIX. We would
appreciate a response by Friday, December 3, 2004.
73. Despite Novell's repeated requests, SCO has never provided copies of
the Sun and Microsoft licenses, or amendments, or copies of SCO's Intellectual
Property Licenses for Linux or other agreements connected with attempts by
SCO to enter into new or amended SVRX licenses. SCO also never provided any
explanation why SCO was not obligated under the APA to seek Novell's consent
to amend or otherwise enter into new SVRX agreements. As a result, Novell has
been unable to verify SCO's compliance with the APA, as Novell is entitled
under the APA.
Breach of Obligation To Remit Royalties Under Sections
1.2(b) and 4.16(a)
74. Sections 1.2(b) and 4.16(a) of the APA obligate SCO to remit 100% of
"all royalties, fees and other amounts due under all SVRX Licenses" to
Novell. "SVRX Licenses" are in turn defined to include "[a]ll contracts
relating to" the various UNIX System releases and auxiliary products
enumerated at Schedule 1.1(a)(VI) and Attachment A to Amendment No. 1.
37
Under
the APA, Novell has "all right, title and interest to the SVRX Royalties, less
the 5% fee for administering the collection thereof."
75. SCO has failed to remit to Novell all royalties owed under §§
1.2(b) and 4.16(a) of the APA.
76. As SCO admitted in its February 5, 2004 letter to Novell, SCO has
entered into "new" agreements with Sun and Microsoft.
77. On information and belief, these new agreements are "contracts relating
to" the various UNIX System releases and auxiliary products enumerated at
Schedule 1.1(a)(VI) and Attachment A to Amendment No. 1. The new agreements
are therefore SVRX Licenses under the APA.
78. SCO has not remitted any royalties from its new SVRX Licenses with
Sun or Microsoft.
79. In addition, SCO has entered into Intellectual Property Licenses with
a variety of parties. For example, on March 1, 2004, SCO announced an
intellectual property licensing agreement with "EV1Servers.Net" that
purportedly grants that company a site license to use SCO's intellectual
property on all Linux servers managed by EV1Servers.Net in its hosting
facilities.
80. On information and belief, SCO's Intellectual Property Licenses are
"contracts relating to" the various UNIX System releases and auxiliary products
enumerated at Schedule 1.1(a)(VI) and Attachment A to Amendment No. 1. The
Intellectual Property Licenses are therefore SVRX Licenses under the APA.
SCO has not remitted any royalties from these SVRX Licenses.
81. Among other changes to the APA, Amendment No, 1 added § 1.2(e),
which provides that SCO has a right to retain all "source code right to use
fees attributable to new SVRX Licenses approved by [Novell] pursuant to
Section 4.16(b)."
38
82. SCO has neither sought nor obtained Novell's approval to enter into any
new SVRX license. Therefore, none of SCO's new SVRX Licenses fall within
§ 1.2(e)'s exception to SCO's general duty to remit 100% of SVRX royalties
to Novell.
Breach of Section 4.16(b)'s Obligations
83. Section 4.16(b) of the APA reads in pertinent part:
In addition, at [Novell's] sole discretion and direction,
[SCO] shall amend, supplement, modify or waive any rights under, or shall
assign any rights to, any SVRX License to the extent so directed in any manner
or respect by [Novell].
84. SCO has threatened to cancel or terminate various parties' SVRX
licenses and has purported to cancel or terminate certain parties' SVRX
licenses. For example, on March 6, 2003, SCO sent a letter to IBM
threatening to cancel or terminate IBM's SVRX license. On May 29, 2003, SCO
sent a similar letter to Sequent Computer Systems ("Sequent").
85. SCO subsequently purported to cancel or terminate IBM's SVRX licenses
as of June 13, 2003. On August 11, 2003, SCO sent a letter to Sequent
similarly purporting to terminate Sequent's SVRX licenses.
86. SCO did not obtain Novell's prior written consent to cancel or
terminate either SVRX license. Accordingly, on June 9, 2003, and again on
October 7, 2003, Novell directed SCO to waive any purported right SCO
claimed to have to terminate IBM's SVRX licenses. On February 6, 2004,
Novell similarly directed SCO to waive certain of its purported rights under
the IBM and Sequent SVRX licenses.
87. Following SCO's failure to take the actions identified in the
preceding paragraphs, Novell elected to take actions on SCO's behalf, as
Novell is empowered to do by § 4.16(b). Section 4.16(b) of the APA
provides in pertinent part:
In the event that [SCO] shall fail to take any such action
concerning the SVRX Licenses as required herein, [Novell] shall be
authorized, and hereby is granted, the rights to take any action on [SCO's]
own behalf.
39
88. After SCO conveyed its refusal on February 11, 2004 to waive its
purported rights against Sequent, Novell on the same day waived SCO's
purported right to revoke any rights under Sequent's SVRX licenses.
Similarly, on October 11, 2003, Novell waived certain of SCO's purported
rights under IBM's SVRX licenses.
89. SCO refuses to acknowledge Novell's right to take such actions on
its own behalf.
90. Under Section 4.16(b) of the APA, SCO shall not amend or modify any
SVRX license "without the prior written consent of [Novell]." As modified by
Amendment 1, Section 4.16(b) of the APA provides further that:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, [SCO] shall have the right to enter
into amendments of the SVRX Licenses (i) as may be incidentally involved
through its rights to sell and license UnixWare software or the Merged Product
.. or future versions of the Merged Product, or (ii) to allow a licensee under
a particular SVRX License to use the source code of the relevant SVRX
product(s) on additional CPU's or to receive an additional distribution, from
[SCO], of such source code.
In addition, [SCO] shall not, and shall have no right to, enter into new
SVRX Licenses except in the situation specified in (i) of the preceding
sentence as otherwise approved in writing in advance by [Novell] on a case by
case basis.
91. On information and belief, SCO has entered into new SVRX Licenses with
Sun, Microsoft and others (through, for example, SCO's Intellection Property
Licenses with Linux end users or UNIX vendors), or otherwise amended the
Sun and Microsoft SVRX license.
92. SCO never sought advance approval from Novell to enter into these new
SVRX Licenses or amendments thereof. SCO also never explained why under the
APA it was not obligated to obtain Novell's advance approval.
93. Under the APA, SCO also had no authority to enter into the Sun and
Microsoft SVRX Licenses, or the Intellectual Property Licenses with Linux
end users and UNIX vendors.
40
FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Slander of Title)
94. Novell incorporates by reference all prior paragraphs as if they were
set forth here in full.
95. SCO made its public statements claiming ownership of the UNIX
Copyrights, and improperly registered its claim to UNIX Copyrights, with
knowledge that title to these copyrights remains with Novell.
96. SCO made such statements maliciously, in bad faith, and with
intentional disregard for the truth.
97. SCO made such statements with the intent to cause customers and
potential customers of Novell not to do business with Novell, to slander and
impugn the ownership rights of Novell in UNIX and UnixWare, and to attempt, in
bad faith, to block Novell's ability to exercise its copyrights therein.
98. SCO's slander of Novell's title has resulted in special damages
including, inter alia, Novell's costs and fees in preparing and filing
copyright registrations and declarations correcting SCO's erroneous
registrations claiming ownership of Novell's intellectual property and in
prosecuting this action.
SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Breach of Contract:
§§ 1.2(b) and 1.2(f) of the Asset Purchase Agreement)
99. Novell incorporates by reference all prior paragraphs as if they were
set forth here in full.
100. Pursuant to its audit rights under the APA, Novell requested certain
information from SCO to verify SCO's compliance with the APA, including:
a. Any amendments and modifications to SVRX licenses, and in particular
the amendments to the Sun and Microsoft SVRX licenses, including a copy of
these amendments and a detailed explanation on SCO's position if
41
SCO contends
that either of the two exceptions to the prohibition on unilateral
amendments by SCO was applicable;
b. Any buy-out or potential buy-out of SVRX licenses, and in particular
any information concerning any buy-out of Sun and Microsoft's royalty
obligations under their SVRX licenses;
c. Any new SVRX licenses, and in particular SCO's new SVRX agreements
with Sun and Microsoft and SCO's Intellectual Property Licenses with Linux
end users or UNIX vendors, including copies of these agreements and a
detailed explanation of SCO's position if SCO contends that the exception to
the prohibition on new SVRX Licenses by SCO was applicable; and
d. Any SVRX to UnixWare Conversions, including documentation for any
allegedly valid conversions, a detailed explanation of how the alleged
conversion complies with the APA and a detailed explanation of SCO's position
if SCO contends that any of the exceptions to the prohibition on conversion
by SCO were triggered.
101. Under the APA, SCO was obligated to provide this information. SCO
substantially and materially breached §§ 1.2(b) and 1.2(f) of the
APA by refusing to do so.
102. On information and belief, SCO's breaches of §§ 1.2(b) and
1.2(f) of the APA have caused Novell damage in an amount to be later proven.
In addition, these breaches have caused Novell special damages, including,
inter alia, the costs associated with making repeated requests for
information necessary to confirm SCO's compliance with its contractual
obligations to administer SVRX licensing program, conducting further reviews
of the limited information provided by SCO, and attempting to estimate
royalties owing based upon incomplete information provided.
42
103. The legal remedies available to Novell for future failures by SCO to
comply with its audit obligations under §§ 1.2(b) and 1.2(f) of the
APA may be inadequate. Therefore, Novell seeks an order from this Court
compelling SCO's specific performance of its aforementioned audit
obligations under §§ 1.2(b) and 1.2(f).
THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Breach of Contract:
§§ 1.2(b) & 4.16(a) of the Asset Purchase Agreement)
104. Novell incorporates by reference all prior paragraphs as if they were
set forth here in full.
105. SCO has substantially and materially breached §§ 1.2(b) and
4.16(a) of the APA by failing to remit all royalties owed to Novell,
including any royalties SCO obtained from its new SVRX Licenses with Sun or
Microsoft or from its Intellectual Property Licenses with Linux end users or
UNIX vendors.
106. On information and belief, SCO's breaches of §§ 1.2(b) &
4.16(a) of the APA have caused Novell damage in an amount to be later proven.
These breaches have caused Novell special damages, including,
inter alia, the costs associated with attempting to ascertain from
SCO the royalty amounts due to Novell and the unpaid royalty amounts.
107. The legal remedies available to Novell for future failures by SCO to
comply with its royalty obligations under §§ 1.2(b) & 4.16(a) of
the APA may be inadequate. Therefore, Novell seeks an order from this Court
compelling SCO's specific performance of its remittance obligations under
§§ 1.2(b) & 4.16(a) of the APA.
108. In addition, Novell seeks an order from this Court imposing a
constructive trust on revenues received by SCO from its new SVRX Licenses with
Sun and Microsoft and from its Intellectual Property Licenses with Linux end
users and UNIX vendors. Creation of this trust is necessary to protect Novell
from SCO's wrongful retention of monies owing Novell due to SCO's failure to
perform its remittance obligations under §§ 1.2(b) & 4.16(a) of
the APA. As set
43
forth above, Novell owns "all right, title and interest" to
these royalties, less SCO's 5% administrative fee.
109. This trust should be imposed for the additional reason that SCO is
quickly dissipating its assets. On information and belief, SCO's revenues are
declining, its operational losses are increasing and its cash is dwindling
quickly. SCO expects to have only $11 million in cash remaining for its
business operations as of October 31, 2005, just a fraction of the revenue it
purportedly generated as a result of the Sun and Microsoft licenses.
110. Novell also seeks an order from the Court attaching SCO's assets
pending adjudication of this claim because SCO is quickly dissipating its
assets.
FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Declaratory Relief: Rights
and Duties under § 4.16(b) of the Asset Purchase Agreement)
111. Novell incorporates by reference all prior paragraphs as if they were
set forth here in full.
112. Under § 4.16(b) of the APA, Novell has the right, at its sole
discretion, to direct SCO to waive any rights under any SVRX Licenses. In the
event that SCO fails to take any such action at Novell's direction,
§ 4.16(b) gives Novell the right to take any action on SCO's own behalf.
SCO refused to perform its corresponding duties under § 4.16(b) and
substantially and materially breached § 4.16(b) by:
a. Purporting to cancel or terminate SVRX licenses, including the IBM and
Sequent SVRX licenses, and then refusing to waive these purported rights as
directed by Novell; and
b. Refusing to recognize actions taken by Novell on SCO's behalf pursuant
to § 4.16(b), including Novell's waiver of SCO's purported claims against
IBM and Sequent.
113. Novell seeks a declaration pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 that:
44
a. Under § 4.16(b) of the APA, Novell is entitled, at its sole
discretion, to direct SCO to waive its purported claims against IBM, Sequent
and other SVRX licensees; and
b. Under § 4.16(b) of the APA, Novell is entitled to waive on SCO's
behalf SCO's purported claims against IBM, Sequent and other SVRX licensees,
when SCO refuses to act as directed by Novell; and
c. SCO is obligated to recognize Novell's waiver of SCO's purported claims
against IBM and Sequent.
114. Under § 4.16(b) of the APA, SCO is obligated to seek Novell's prior
approval to enter into new SVRX Licenses or amendments of SVRX Licenses,
subject to limited exception. SCO did not perform its corresponding duties
under § 4.16(b) and substantially and materially breached § 4.16(b)
by:
a. Purporting to enter into new SVRX licenses without Novell's prior
approval, including agreements with Sun, Microsoft and other licensees of
SCO's Intellectual Property Licenses, without demonstrating that either of
two limited exceptions was applicable; and
b. Purporting to enter into amendments of SVRX Licenses without Novell's
prior approval, including agreements with Sun, Microsoft and other
licensees of SCO's Intellectual Property Licenses, without demonstrating that
a limited exception was applicable.
115. Novell seeks a declaration pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 that:
a. Under § 4.16(b) of the APA, SCO was obligated to seek Novell's
prior approval to enter into new SVRX licenses or amendments to SVRX licenses,
including SCO's agreements with Sun, Microsoft and other licensees of SCO's
Intellectual Property Licenses; and
45
b. Under § 4.16(b) of the APA, SCO is obligated to seek Novell's
prior approval to enter into new SVRX licenses or amendments to SVRX licenses,
unless SCO can demonstrate to Novell that any exceptions to the prohibitions
against new licenses and amendments by SCO are applicable.
116. Novell pleads in the alternative for a declaration pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 2201 that SCO had no authority to enter into the Sun and
Microsoft SVRX Licenses, as well as the Intellectual Property Licenses
with Linux end users and UNIX vendors.
FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Declaratory Relief: Rights
and Obligations Under APA's Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing)
117. Novell incorporates by reference all prior paragraphs as if they were
set forth here in full.
118. The APA incorporates a covenant of good faith and fair dealing whereby
each party agrees to work with the other to fulfill the purposes of the
contract.
119. The APA granted Novell broad audit rights to verify SCO's compliance
with the APA, as well as rights to approve (subject to limited exception) new
SVRX licenses and amendments to SVRX licenses. The APA also granted Novell
the right to direct SCO to amend, supplement, modifiy or waive any rights under
any SVRX license, and to act on SCO's behalf if SCO fails to take such
direction.
120. Under the APA, SCO was obligated to administer the SVRX License Program,
subject to the additional duties provided in §§ 1.2(b), 1.2(f) and
4.16.
121. SCO failed to abide by these obligations under the APA and therefore
substantially and materially breached the APA's covenant of good faith and
fair dealing.
122. Novell seeks a declaration pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 that SCO
is obligated under the APA to:
46
a. Comply with Novell's exercise of its audit rights under §§
1.2(b) and 1.2(f) by providing information requested concerning new SVRX
licenses and amendments to SVRX licenses;
b. Seek Novell's prior approval before entering into new SVRX licenses or
amendments to SVRX licenses, or otherwise demonstrate that an exception to the
prohibition against new licenses or amendments by SCO is applicable;
c. Amend, supplement, modify or waive any rights under SVRX License to the
extent so directed in any manner or respect by Novell in its sole discretion;
and
d. Accept actions taken by Novell on SCO's behalf when SCO fails to take
such action in (c) above as directed by Novell.
SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Restitution/Unjust Enrichment)
123. Novell incorporates by reference all prior paragraphs as if they were
set forth here in full.
124. SCO has been unjustly enriched by retaining in part or in full portions
of all SVRX Royalties to which Novell was entitled under the APA.
125. In addition, SCO has been unjustly enriched by retaining a 5%
administrative fee for administering the SVRX License Program but having failed
to fulfill its administrative auditing duties under the APA.
126. Novell seeks restitution of all monies constituting SCO's unjust
enrichment.
127. Novell seeks an order from this Court imposing a constructive trust on
revenues SCO unjustly received by failing to perform its administrative
auditing and remittance obligations under the APA.
47
SEVENTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Accounting)
128. Novell incorporates by reference all prior paragraphs as if they were
set forth here in full.
129. Under the APA, Novell and SCO shared the stream of revenues from the
SVRX licenses. In particular, SCO agreed to collect and pass through to
Novell 100% of the SVRX royalties as defined and described in Section 4.16
hereof, while Novell agreed to pay an administrative fee of 5% of the SVRX
Royalties. SCO was also responsible for making additional royalties and
payments to Novell.
130. Under section 1.2(b) of the APA, Novell was entitled to
"periodic audits" of SCO concerning "all royalties and payments due to
[Novell] ...." Under section 4.16(a), SCO was required to "diligently seek to
collect all [SVRX] royalties ... and [to] investigate and perform appropriate
auditing and enforcement under [the SVRX] licenses." SCO was also required to
provide regular audit reports to Novell regarding the SVRX royalties and the
other royalties under section 1.2(f) of the APA.
131. Under the APA, the amounts due Novell were determined and verified on
the basis of the audits required under the APA. The right to an accounting of
the royalties and payments due to Novell under the SVRX licenses and other
provisions of the APA was inherent in the APA.
132. SCO has failed to fulfill its duties under the audit provisions of the
APA, and substantially and materially breached those provisions.
133. Between the time the APA was concluded and the present, there have been
hundreds of customers responsible for making royalty payments to SCO under the
SVRX Licenses or under other agreements relating to royalty bearing products.
SCO was obligated under the APA to receive and administer these royalty
payments and share them with Novell.
48
134. Under the APA, royalty payments under the SVRX licenses or other
agreements relating to royalty bearing products were to be paid to Novell
through SCO. The amount of royalties was calculated through a specified
formula.
135. On information and belief, SCO has entered into new and/or
amendments of the SVRX licenses with Sun and Microsoft, as well as with Linux
end users under SCO's Intellectual Property Licenses. SCO failed to seek
approval to enter into these licenses, and explain why it was not obligated
to obtain Novell's advance approval. Despite repeated requests by Novell to
SCO to obtain the underlying information and documentation to verify SCO's
APA compliance as part of the audit, SCO failed to report these licenses.
This failure to report consitutes a substantial and material breach of the
APA.
136. On information and belief, SCO has received royalties under the SVRX
licenses which it consummated with Sun and Microsoft, as well as from Linux
end users under SCO's Intellectual Propert Licenses. SCO has not passed on to
Novell the required 100% of the royalties it has received under these
licenses. This failure to pay royalties also constitutes a substantial and
material breach of the APA.
137. Because SCO has refused to provide Novell with a copy of these licenses,
Novell is unable to allege with particularity the precise payment terms of the
licenses or the corresponding amounts payable to Novell under these licenses
pursuant to the APA. Without an accounting, it is therefore impracticable for
Novell to name a fixed sum that is owing with respect to these licenses.
138. Given the large number of customers currently responsible for making
royalty payments to SCO under the SVRX licenses or under other agreements
relating to royalty bearing products, the complexity of the forumulas by
which these royalty payments are calculated, and the fact that SCO receives
directly all these royalty payments without immediate notice to Novell, it
49
is impracticable for Novell to name a fixed sum that is owing with respect
to these royalty payments without an accounting.
139. Novell therefore seeks an accounting for monies owed to Novell under
the APA.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Novell prays for judgement as follows:
140. For actual and special damages, in an amount to be proven at trial,
caused by SCO's slander of Novell's title to the UNIX Copyrights;
141. For punitive damages in an amount to be proven at trial for SCO's
malicious and willful conduct in slandering Novell's title to the UNIX
Copyrights as alleged herein;
142. For preliminary and permanent injunctive relief requiring SCO to
withdraw its improperly registered claims to UNIX Copyrights;
143. For actual and special damages, in an amount to be proven at trial,
caused by SCO's breaches of §§ 1.2(b), 1.2(f) and 4.16 of the
APA;
144. For specific performance of future compliance with SCO's audit
obligations under §§ 1.2(b) and 1.2(f) of the APA;
145. For specific performance of future compliance with SCO's royalty
obligations under §§ 1.2(b) and 4.16(a) of the APA;
146. For an order imposing a constructive trust on the revenues remitted to
SCO under new or amended SVRX Licenses;
147. For an order attaching SCO's assets pending adjudication of Novell's
contract claims;
148. For declaratory relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 establishing
Novell's rights and SCO's obligations under § 4.16(b), as well as SCO's
authority to undertake certain actions under § 4.16(b);
50
149. For preliminary and permanent injunctive relief enforcing Novell's
contractual rights under the APA, including injunctive relief barring SCO from
taking actions inconsistent with or in violation of §§ 1.2(b),
1.2(f), 4.16(a) and 4.16(b);
150. For declaratory relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2001 establishing
Novell's rights and SCO's obligations under the covenant of good faith and
fair dealing in the APA;
151. For an order of restitution of all monies constituting SCO's unjust
enrichment;
152. For an accounting of the royalties remitted to SCO under the SVRX
licenses and the monies owing to Novell under the APA;
153. For pre-judgment interest on any monetary recovery;
154. For Novell's reasonable expenses and costs incurred, including without
limitation attorneys' fees, in defending against the Second Amended Complaint;
and
155. For such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.
JURY TRIAL DEMAND
Counterclaim-plaintiff Novell hereby demands a trial by jury of any and
all issues triable by a jury.
DATED: April 10, 2006
ANDERSON & KARRENBERG
____[signature]______
Thomas R. Karrenberg
John P. Mullen
Heathert M. Sneddon
- and -
MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP
Michael A. Jacobs (pro hac vice)
Kenneth W. Brakebill (pro hac vice)
Attorneys for Novell, Inc.
51
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that on this 10th day of
April, 2006, I caused a true and correct copy of the foregoing NOVELL,
INC.'S ANSWER TO SCO'S SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS to be
served via first class mail, postage prepaid, to the following:
Brent O. Hatch
Mark F. James
Mark R. Clements
HATCH JAMES & DODGE, P.C.
[address]
Kevin P. McBride
[address]
Stephen N. Zack
Mark J. Heise
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
[address]
Robert Silver
Edward J. Normand
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
[address]
_____[signature]____
52
************************************************
Para | 2nd Amended Complaint (SCO) | Answer (Novell) |
I. NATURE OF THIS ACTION |
1 |
Through an Asset Purchase Agreement between Novell and The Santa Cruz Operation ("Santa Cruz") dated September 19, 1995, as amended (the "APA"), and SCO's subsequent acquisition of two divisions from Santa Cruz through a transaction closing on or about May 7, 2001, SCO acquired all right, title, and interest in and to the UNIX and UnixWare business, operating system, source code, license agreements, and copyrights, as well as the right to bring actions for infringement or other violations relating to said assets (collectively, the "business" or the "UNIX and UnixWare business"). |
Novell admits that it entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with SCO's alleged predecessor in interest, The Santa Cruz Operation ("Santa Cruz"), dated September 19, 1995. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 1 is denied. |
2 |
The intent of the parties to the APA and the purpose of the APA, as well as the intent and purpose of the subsequent Santa Cruz-to-SCO transaction, were to transfer the UNIX and UnixWare business to SCO, including the copyrights in UNIX, UnixWare, and supporting materials (the "copyrights"). |
Denied. |
3 |
This lawsuit stems from Novell's willful infringement of the copyrights and from its false and bad-faith claims that it owns the copyrights and UNIX itself and that it has the authority under the APA to destroy the value of the business by waiving, revoking, or otherwise controlling SCO's rights and claims related to the business. |
Denied. |
4 |
In consideration for its sale of the business under the APA, Novell received, among other consideration. 6.1 million shares of Santa Cruz common stock, in a transaction valued at the time at over $100 million, as well as an equitable interest in 95% of certain binary royalties as described below. |
Novell admits that it sold certain business assets relating to its UNIX and UnixWare software products to Santa Cruz, In consideration for this sale, Novell received 6.1 million shares of Santa Cruz common stock and retained significant rights relating to Novell's UNIX business, including but not limited to, certain intellectual property rights, the right to receive royalties, fees, and amounts due under SVRX license agreements, prior approval right relating to new SVRX licenses and amended licenses, the right to take certain actions relating to SVRX licenses, and the right to conduct audits of the SVRX license program. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 4 is denied. |
5 |
In Attachment E of Novell's' Disclosure Schedule to the APA, Novell provided a list of approximately 106 copyright registrations (encompassing eight pages) covering products relating to the business transferred to SCO. |
Novell admits that Attachment E to the Asset Purchase Agreement provided a list of approximately 106 copyright registrations. Novell denies that Attachment E, alone or in connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement, transferred any UNIX or UnixWare copyrights to SCO. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 5 is denied. |
6 |
In the course of exercising its rights with respect to UNIX and UnixWare, SCO has filed for copyright protection with the United States Copyright Office. |
Novell admits that SCO has registered a claim to UNIX and UnixWare copyrights with the United States Copyright Office. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 6 is denied. |
7 |
In an effort to interfere with SCO's exercise of its rights with respect to UNIX and UnixWare technologies, Novell has, in disregard of its obligations under the APA, filed for copyright protection in the same UNIX technology covered by SCO's copyrights. |
Novell admits that Novell has registered its claim to UNIX and UnixWare copyrights with the United States Copyright Office. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 7 is denied. |
8 |
Novell has falsely and repeatedly claimed in public that it, and not SCO, owns the copyrights. |
Novell admits that it has, in good faith, publicly stated its belief that it owns UNIX and UnixWare copyrights. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 8 is denied. |
9 |
Novell has made such statements with the intent to cause customers and potential customers of SCO to refrain from doing business with SCO; to slander and impugn SCO's ownership rights in UNIX and UnixWare; and to attempt, in bad faith, to block SCO's ability to enforce the copyrights and its rights under UNIX licenses. |
Denied. |
10 |
Novell's false and misleading representations that it owns the copyrights have directly caused and continue to cause significant irreparable harm to SCO's valuable UNIX and UnixWare copyrights, its business, and its reputation, and has caused third parties to refuse to enter into license agreements with SCO relating to SCO's UNIX and UnixWare business. |
Denied. |
11 |
In connection with the closing of the transaction set forth in the APA, Novell and Santa Cruz entered into a Technology License Agreement (the "TLA"), which licensed back to Novell all technology included in the transferred assets, including all modifications of that technology, for certain limited purposes. |
Novell admits that Novell and Santa Cruz entered into a Technology License Agreement ("TLA") at the time of the APA's closing. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 11 is denied. |
12 |
The APA and TLA each contained a non-compete provision, whereby Novell covenanted not to distribute the licensed-back technology in (a) any operating system in competition with SCO's core server products or (b) in any product in which that technology constitutes a primary portion of the value of the product. |
Denied. |
13 |
In 2003, Novell became a distributor of the Linux operating system by purchasing SuSE Linux. As SCO has alleged in its suit against International Business Machines ("IBM") pending in this Court, IBM has wrongfully contributed SCO's UNIX technology to Linux, and that technology constitutes a primary portion of the value of Linux. Consequently, by distributing Linux in competition with SCO's core products, Novell has materially breached the non-compete provisions of the APA and TLA. |
Novell admits that it entered into an agreement to acquire SuSE Linux in 2003 and that it completed this acquisition in 2004, thereby becoming a distributer of SuSE Linux. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 13 is denied. |
14 |
Furthermore, Novell has infringed and continues to infringe SCO's copyrights by copying, reproducing, modifying, sublicensing, and/or distributing the licensed-back technology, contrary to the express terms of the TLA. In addition, through its Linux business, Novell has also infringed and continues to infringe SCO's copyrights in UNIX, by copying, reproducing, modifying, sublicensing, and/or distributing UNIX intellectual property without authority to do so. |
Denied. |
15 |
Under Section 4.16 of the APA, Novell retained the right to continue receiving certain product royalties that Santa Cruz collected from then-existing SVRX licensees for their distribution of binary-only versions of System V pursuant to sublicensing agreements. Under Sections 4.16, 1.2(b), and 1.2(f) of the APA, Novell also retained the right to direct or take certain actions to protect those SVRX royalties. Novell has erroneously and in bad faith attempted to extend those rights to matters unrelated to Novell's protected binary royalty stream. In particular, Novell has purported, among other things, to waive SCO's rights and claims against IBM for its wrongful contributions to Linux, even though those rights and claims were transferred to SCO under the APA and the Santa Cruz-to-SCO transaction. |
Novell admits that it retained significant rights under Section 4.16 of the APA, including the right to receive royalties, fees, and amounts due under SVRX license agreements, but denies that any of its 4.16 rights are limited to "then-existing SVRC licensees for their distribution of binary-code versions of System V pusuant to sublicensing agreements." Novell admits that, under APA Sections 4.16, 1.2(b) and 1.2(f), it retained the right to direct or take certain actions to protect this royalty stream. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 15 is denied. |
16 |
Under the APA, Novell did not retain the rights to take or direct any actions with respect to any source-code licenses or fees, other SVRX royalties, or any claims arising after the closing date against any parties relating to any right, property, or asset included in the business. The APA intended and did transfer such rights exclusively to SCO. |
Denied. |
17 |
Novell's retaining such rights would have subverted the stated purpose of the APA and rendered Santa Cruz's ownership of the UNIX and UnixWare business illusory. Similarly, Novell's retaining the copyrights would have made Santa Cruz's ownership of UNIX and UnixWare technologies without value or meaning. |
Denied. |
18 |
Novell's newly concocted claims that Santa Cruz intended and did pay over $100 million for intellectual property without the copyrights to protect and exploit it, all while abdicating to Novell the right to control and destroy the value of that property, defies commercial reason and common sense and contradicts conduct during the years that followed that APA. |
Denied. |
19 |
Novell has interfered with SCO's UNIX license agreements with IBM and Silicon Graphics, Inc. ("SGI"), by asserting falsely and in bad faith that Novell owns the copyrights and by purporting in bad faith to waive and revoke SCO's claims against IBM and SGI that arose after the closing date and are related to those agreements. |
Denied. |
20 |
Several provisions of the APA require the parties to take the actions necessary to effectuate the purposes of the APA and consummate the transactions contemplated therein. If it were true (contrary to the intent of the parties to the APA) that Novell retained the copyrights and SCO received mere phantom rights to the business, then Novell has breached those provisions by failing to take the actions necessary to convey the business to SCO as contemplated by the APA. |
Novell admits that the APA includes a provision providing that the parties will take any further action necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the APA. Novell denies that this provision, or any other provision in the APA, operates to support a transfer of the UNIX or UnixWare copyrights to SCO. Novell denies each and every other allegation in paragraph 20. |
21 |
Through this action against Novell, SCO seeks the following:
- a preliminary and permanent injunction (i) requiring Novell to assign to SCO all copyrights that Novell has improperly registered in UNIX and UnixWare following Novell's transfer of all right, title, and interest in and to the UNIX and UnixWare business, operating system, source code, license agreements, and all copyrights related thereto to SCO pursuant to the APA; (ii) preventing Novell from representing in any forum that it has any ownership interest whatsoever in the copyrights or UNIX itself; (iii) requiring Novell to retract or withdraw all its representations of its purported ownership of the copyrights;
- a preliminary and permanent injunction preventing Novell from copying, reproducing, modifying, sublicensing, and distributing SCO's copyrighted UNIX and UnixWare technology, except as provided by the TLA;
- actual, special, enhanced, statutory, and punitive damages in amounts to be proved at trial; and
- as an alternative claim, an order directing Novell specifically to perform its obligations under the APA by taking the actions necessary to transfer to SCO the UNIX and UnixWare business, including the copyrights.
|
Novell denies that SCO is entitled to any relief under its Second Amended Complaint, and each and every other allegation in paragraph 21 is therefore denied. |
II. PARTIES, JURISDICTION, AND VENUE |
22 |
Plaintiff SCO is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Utah County, Utah. |
Admitted. |
23 |
Defendant Novell is a Delaware corporation with its executive offices and headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, that does business in Utah. |
Admitted. |
24 |
This Court has concluded that it has subject matter jurisdiction over SCO's slander-of-title claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and § 1338(a). |
Admitted. |
25 |
The Court has jurisdiction over SCO's copyright claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and § 1338(a). |
Novell admits that the Court has jurisdiction over SCO's copyright claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a). However, SCO's copyright claim raises issues subject to arbitration under the contracts that SCO's alleged predecessor-in-interest, Caldera, signed in May 2002 in becoming a member of UnitedLinux (the "UnitedLinux agreements"). The Court should not exercise its jurisdiction until after these issues are finally adjudicated by arbitration. In this regard, Novell has simultaneously filed a motion to stay these proceedings, pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act. |
26 |
Based on its jurisdiction over the slander-of-title and copyright claims, the Court also has supplemental jurisdiction over SCO's state-law claims. |
Admitted. |
27 |
This court has personal jurisdiction over Novell because Novell transacts substantial business in the State of Utah. |
Admitted. |
28 |
Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). |
Admitted, except that venue is not proper for those SCO claims that raise issues subject to arbitration under the UnitedLinux agreements signed by Caldera in May 2002. |
III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND A. The APA's Transfer of the Copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare |
29 |
Schedule 1.1(a) to the APA provides that SCO, through its predecessor in interest, acquired from Novell:
- All rights and ownership of UNIX and UnixWare, including but not limited to all versions of UNIX and UnixWare and all copies of UNIX and UnixWare (including revisions and updates in process), and all technical, design, development, installation, operation and maintenance information concerning UNIX and UnixWare, including source code, source documentation, source listings and annotations, appropriate engineering notebooks, test data and test results, as well as all reference manuals and support materials normally distributed by [Novell] to end-users and potential end-users in connection with the distribution of UNIX and UnixWare....
- All of [Novell's] claims arising after the Closing Date against any parties relating to any right, property, or asset included in the Business.
|
Novell admits that Schedule 1.1(a) to the APA contains the text quoted by the Second Amended Complaint. Novell denies that this text acted to transfer UNIX or UnixWare copyrights to SCO. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 29 is denied. |
30 |
On December 19, 1995 ("the closing date"), the parties closed the transaction set forth in the APA. In connection with the closing, the parties executed the TLA and a Bill of Sale. |
Novell admits that the TLA and a Bill of Sale were executed in connection with the closing of the APA. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 30 is denied. |
31 |
The TLA was originally called for by Section 1.6 of the APA, which provides in part:
1.6. License Back of Assets. Concurrent with the Closing Buyer [SCO] shall execute a license agreement under which it shall grant to Seller [Novell] a royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide license to (i) all of the technology included in the Assets and (ii) all derivatives of the technology included in the Assets, including the "Eiger" product release (such licensed back technology to be referred to collectively as "Licensed Technology").
Through the TLA, Santa Cruz granted to Novell the license specified in Section 1.6, with certain modifications. |
Novell admits that Section 1.6 of the APA contains the text quoted by the Second Amended Complaint and that this text granted Novell a broad license. Novell denies that this text act to transfer UNIX or UnixWare copyrights to SCO. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 31 is denied. |
32 |
As of the closing date, both Novell and SCO, including executives for both parties who negotiated and closed the transaction, intended and believed that the copyrights had been transferred to SCO. Because Novell would not have required a license-back had it retained the copyrights, the TLA evidences the parties' shared intent and belief that, as of the closing date, SCO owned the copyrights. |
Denied. |
33 |
In Amendment No. 2 to the APA, Novell and SCO reiterated and clarified that SCO owned all "copyrights and trademarks owned by Novell as of the date of the [APA] required for SCO to exercise its rights with respect to the acquisition of UNIX and UnixWare technologies," and that Novell would no longer be liable should any third party bring a claim against SCO "pertaining to said copyrights and trademarks." |
Denied. |
B. Novell's Slander of SCO's Title to the Copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare |
34 |
Software technology is valuable only insofar as the intellectual property contained therein is protected from unlawful misappropriation. Copyrights provide critical protection against misappropriation as established by the United States Congress under the Copyright Act. SCO requires the full copyright protection it purchased from Novell to enforce its rights in its proprietary UNIX and UnixWare source code and related technology against infringing third parties. A transfer of source code without the associated copyrights is for all intents and purposes meaningless and worthless. |
Novell states that these averments purport to characterize the laws of the United States and do not require a response. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 34 is denied. |
35 |
Based on the APA and Amendment No. 2, SCO is the sole and exclusive owner of all copyrights related to the UNIX and UnixWare source code and all documentation and peripheral code and systems related thereto. |
Denied. |
36 |
Novell, with full knowledge of SCO's exclusive ownership of the copyrights related to UNIX and UnixWare, has embarked on a malicious campaign to damage SCO's ability to protect its valuable copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare. In particular, Novell has wrongfully asserted ownership over UNIX and UnixWare technologies by filing for copyright protection in its own name, and has made numerous false and misleading public representations disparaging SCO's ownership of the copyrights and claiming that it, and not SCO, owns the copyrights. |
Denied. |
37 |
Novell's false oaths and misleading public representations and wrongful assertions of ownership rights in UNIX and/or UnixWare include, but are not limited to, the following: |
Novell denies that it has made any false oath, misleading public representation, or wrongful assertion of ownership rights, and on that basis denies each and every other allegation in paragraph 37, except as set forth below: |
a) |
On May 28, 2003, Novell's Chairman, President, and CEO Jack Messman based at Novell's headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, publicly claimed that Novell did not transfer the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights to SCO and that "SCO is not the owner of the UNIX copyrights." Mr. Messman's statement was published in several newspapers and other publications, and he and Novell timed the statement to be released on the eve of SCO's positive quarterly earnings announcement. As a result of Novell's announcement, SCO's stock price dropped over twenty percent. |
Novell admits that on May 28, 2003 Jack Messman sent a letter to Darl McBride of SCO in order to assert Novell's claim to the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights and to protect Novell's interests and the interests of its customers. This letter contained the following text:
Importantly, and contrary to SCO's assertions, SCO is not the owner of the UNIX copyrights. Not only would a quick check of U.S. Copyright Office records reveal this fact, but a review of the asset transfer agreement between Novell and SCO confirms it. To Novell's knowledge, the 1995 agreement governing SCO's purchase of UNIX from Novell does not convey to SCO the associated copyrights. We believe it unlikely that SCO can demonstrate that it has any ownership interest whatsoever in those copyrights. Apparently, you share this view, since over the last few months you have repeatedly asked Novell to transfer the copyrights to SCO, requests that Novell has rejected. Finally, we find it telling that SCO failed to assert a claim for copyright or patent infringement against IBM.
...
[W]e demand that SCO retract its false and unsupported assertions of ownership in UNIX patents and copyrights or provide us with conclusive information regarding SCO's ownership claims.
On January 13, 2004, Novell made a copy of this letter available on its website at http://www.novell.com/licensing/indemnity/legal.html. Novell is without further knowledge as to details of other publication and therefore denies each and every other allegation related thereto. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(a) is denied. |
b) |
In a letter dated June 6, 2003, directed from SCO to Novell, SCO brought to Novell's attention Amendment No. 2 to the APA. |
Novell admits that on June 6, 2003, SCO sent Novell a letter pertaining to Amendment 2 and the Asset Purchase Agreement. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(b) is denied. |
c) |
Following Novell's receipt of SCO's letter dated June 6, 2003, Novell issued a press release dated that same date which recanted Mr. Messman's prior statement claiming Novell owned UNIX copyrights, stating "[t]he amendment [to the Asset Purchase Agreement] appears to support SCO's claim that ownership of certain copyrights for UNIX did transfer to SCO in 1996." |
Novel admits that on June 6, 2003, it issued a press release containing thr following text:
In a may 28th letter to SCO, Novell challenged SCO's claims to UNIX patent and copyright ownership and demanded that SCO substantiate its allegations that Linux infringes SCO's intellectual property rights. Amendment #2 to the 1995 SCO-Novell Asset Purchase Agreement was sent to Novell last night by SCO. To Novell's knowledge, this amendment is not present in Novell's files. The amendment appears to support SCO's claim that ownership of certain copyrights for UNIX did transfer to SCO in 1996. The amendment does not address ownership of patents, however, which clearly remain with Novell.
Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(c) is denied. |
d) |
In a letter of the same day, June 6, 2003, directed to SCO, Joseph Lasala, Novell's General Counsel, continued to call SCO's claims of copyright ownership "absurd" and "unsubstantiated." |
Responding to a threat by SCO to sue Novell for federal securities fraud conveyed in SCO's June 6, 2003 letter, Novell admits that Joseph LaSala sent a letter to Darl McBride on June 6, 2003, containing the following text:
Your letter contains absurd and unfounded accusations against Novell and others, coupled with a veiled threat to publically state those allegations in a SCO press call to be held today at 11:00 am EST. Novell continues to demand that SCO cease and desist its practive of making unsubstantiated allegations, including the allegations contained in your letter of June 6, 2003.
Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(d) is denied. |
e) |
In a letter dated June 26, 2003, from Mr. Lasala to SCO, Novell acknowledged that Amendment No. 2 "appears to support a claim" by SCO to "some copyrights," but at the same time, Novell called SCO's claim of ownership of UNIX and UnixWare "simply wrong" and declared "that we do not agree with SCO's public statements on this matter." |
Responding to a subsequent press release issued by SCO, Novell admits that Joseph LaSala sent a letter to Darl McBride on June 26, 2003, containing the following text:
SCO's statements [claiming to own "the patents, copyrights, and core technologies associated with the UNIX system"] are simply wrong. We acknowledge, as noted in our June 6 public statement, that Amendment No. 2 to the Asset Purchase Agreement appears to support a claim that Santa Cruz Operation had the right to acquire some copyrights from Novell. Upon closer scrutiny, however, Amendment No. 2 raises as many questions as it answers. Indeed, what is most certainly not the case is that "any question of whether UNIX copyrights were transfered to SCO as part of the Asset Purchase Agreement was clarified in Amendment No. 2" (as SCO stated in its June 6 press release). And there is no indication whatsoever that SCO owns all the patents associated with UNIX or UnixWare.
We are still reviewing the Asset Purchase Agreement and other materials to determine the actual scope of rights transferred to SCO. In the meantime, we wish to make clear that we do not agree with SCO's public statement on this matter.
Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(e) is denied. |
f) |
In a letter from Mr. Lasala dated August 4, 2003, Novell responded to SCO's registration of UNIX System V copyrights with the United States Copyright Office and explicitly "dispute[d] SCO's claim to ownership of these copyrights." |
SCO subsequently registered claims to the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights with the United States Copyright Office. Responding to that registration, Novell admits that Joseph LaSala sent a letter to Darl McBride on August 4, 2003, containing the following text:
We dispute SCO's claim to ownership of these copyrights. The Asset Purchase Agreement, in Schedule 1.1(b), contains a general exclusion of copyrights from the assets transferred to Santa Cruz Operation. Amendment No. 2 provides an excpetion to that exclusion, but only for "copyrights...required for [Santa Cruz Operation] to exercise its rights with respect to the acquisition of UNIX and UnixWare technologies."
In other words, under the Asset Purchase Agreement and Amendment No. 2, copyrights were not transferred to Santa Cruz Operation unless SCO could demonstrate that such a right was "required for [Santa Cruz Operation]" to exercise the rights granted to it in the APA. Santa Cruz Operation has never made such a demonstration, and we certainly see no reason why Santa Cruz Operation would have needed ownership of copyrights in UNIX System V in order to exercise the limited rights granted SCO under the APA. Nor is there any reason to think that a transfer of the copyrights required for SCO to exercise its APA rights necessarily entails transfer of the entire set of exclusive rights associated with a particular copyrighted computer program.
Unless and until SCO is able to establish that some particular copyright right is "required" for SCO to exercise its rights under the APA, SCO's claim to ownership of any copyrights in UNIX technologies must be rejected, and ownership of such rights instead remains with Novell.
Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(f) is denied. |
g) |
Despite Amendment No. 2, Novell continued with its unfounded and malicious campaign to slander SCO's ownership of the copyrights. In fact, Novell again falsely asserted ownership of UNIX copyrights by submitting twelve certifications beginning on September 22, 2003, through October 14, 2003, to the United States Copyright Office. In these certifications, Novell publicly claimed to be the copyright owner of several versions of UNIX, including the following: (1) UNIX System V/386 Release 4 Version 3; (2) UNIX System V/386 Release 4 2; (3) UNIX System V/386 Release 4 Version 4; (4) UNIX System V/386 Release 3.2; (5) UNIX System V/386 Release 3.0; (6) UNIX System V/386 Release 4.0; (7) UNIX System V/386 Release 4.1ES; (8) UNIX System V Release 3.2/386; (9) UNIX System V Release 3/386; (10) UNIX System V Release 4.2MP; (11) UNIX System V Release 2; and (12) UNIX System V Release 4.1ES/386. Novell published its false certifications to the world by placing them online at Novell's website. |
Responding to SCO's copyright registrations, Novell admits that it has registered its claim to the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights enumerated in paragraph 19(g). Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(g) is denied. |
h) |
Also on October 10, 2003, Novell publicly filed under oath with the United States Copyright Office four different iterations of a "Declaration Regarding Ownership" of UNIX copyrights TXU-510-028, TXU-511-236, TXU-516-704, and TXU-516-705. In each of these sworn documents, Novell declared "that it retains all or substantially all of the ownership of the copyrights in UNIX, including the U.S. Copyright Registration referenced above." |
Admitted. |
i) |
In a press release dated December 22, 2003, Novell, despite its June 2003 statement that SCO owns the copyrights, stated that "it owns the copyrights in UNIX, and has applied for and received copyright registrations pertaining to UNIX consistent with that position." |
In response to a public claim by SCO that Novell had conceded the superiority of SCO's claim to the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights, Novell admits it issued a press release on December 22, 3004, containing the following text:
Novell believes it owns the copyrights in UNIX, and has applied for and received copyright registrations pertaining to UNIX consistent with that position. Novell detailed the basis for its ownership position in correspondence with SCO. Copies of our correspondence, and SCO's reply, are available here. Contrary to SCO's public statements, as demonstrated by this correspondence, SCO has been well aware that Novell continues to assert ownership of the UNIX copyrights.
Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(i) is denied. |
j) |
In a press release dated January 13, 2004, Novell again knowingly and wrongfully made the false claim that "it retained ownership of [UNIX] copyrights." |
On Janurary 13, 2005 Novell announced a Linux Indemnification Program. In connection with this offer, Novell issued a press release clarifying its beliefs as to its legal rights concerning the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights. The press release containing the following:
Novell also made available today additional information on the unique contractual and intellectual property rights it holds because of its position in the historical ownership chain of UNIX and UnixWare. These rights include:
- Novell's rights to license UNIX technology pursuant to a Technology License Agreement between SCO and Novell, including Novell's right to authorize its customers to use that UNIX technology in their internal business operations.
- Novell's rights to take action on behalf of SCO under legacy UNIX SVRX licenses pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement between SCO and Novell.
- As previously confirmed by Novell, copyright registrations on UNIX SVRX releases, consistent with Novell's position that it retained ownership of these copyrights.
Copies of relevant correspondence between Novell and SCO are available at http://www.novell.com/licensing/indemnity/legal.html. The rights reflected in these documents are part of the foundation for the indemnification program Novell is announcing today.
Each and every other allegation in paragraph 37(j) is denied. |
k) |
At the March 2004 Open Source Business Conference in San Francisco, Novell's Vice Chairman Chris Stone proclaimed during his keynote address that Novell "still own[s] UNIX." |
Admitted. |
38 |
Novell's false oaths and wrongful claims of copyrights and ownership in UNIX and UnixWare were made in bad faith and constitute a knowing and intentional disregard for the truth. |
Denied. |
39 |
Novell's wrongful claims of copyrights and ownership in UNIX and UnixWare have caused and continue to cause damage to SCO in the following particulars:
- Customers and potential customers of SCO are unable to ascertain the truth of ownership in UNIX and UnixWare, and make decisions based thereon;
- Potential customers have informed SCO that they will not enter into agreements to license SCO's UNIX technologies because of the cloud surrounding SCO's ownership of UNIX created by Novell's false public representations that it, and not SCO, owns UNIX.
- SCO's efforts to protect its ownership of UNIX and UnixWare, and copyrights therein, are subject to a false cloud of ownership created by Novell. At the present time, SCO is pursuing claims against third parties for infringement of SCO's intellectual property and contractual rights in UNIX. Defendants in those cases have relied on Novell's claims of ownership in UNIX as a defense to SCO's claims, thereby hindering SCO's ability to protect its copyrights and other rights and causing SCO to incur significant additional attorneys' fees and costs litigating issues resulting from the cloud Novell has placed on SCO's title to UNIX and UnixWare.
|
Novell denies that it has made any wrongful claims of copyrights and ownership in UNIX and UnixWare and that SCO is entitled to any relief under its Second Amended Complaint, and each and every other allegation in paragraph 39 is therefore denied. |
C. Novell's Unauthorized Use of SCO's Technology |
40 |
At the time of the execution of the APA, Novell was a leading networking software company. Because it had developed its flagship networking product, Netware, to work on the UNIX operating system, Novell needed and requested the right to distribute trivial portions of the UNIX source code embedded in Netware. |
Novell admits that it was a leading provider of networking and application software when the APA was executed. Novell further admits that it developed its Netware product to provide integrated client support for UNIX, DOS, MS Windows, Macintosh, and OS/2 operating systems. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 40 is denied. |
41 |
Accordingly, with the sole intent of accommodating these requests by Novell, the parties to the APA agreed that Santa Cruz would license back to Novell "all the technology included in the Assets" transferred by the APA, as well as "all derivatives of the technology included in the Assets" (collectively, "the Licensed Technology"), subject to certain broad limitations. |
Denied. |
42 |
To protect the value to Santa Cruz of the transferred UNIX and UnixWare assets, the APA and TLA each contained a non-compete provision, whereby Novell covenanted not to use the Licensed Technology to compete with SCO's core operating-system products. |
Denied. |
43 |
Section 1.6 of the APA provides in part:
Seller agrees that it shall use the Licensed Technology only (i) for internal purposes without restriction or (ii) for resale in bundled or integrated products sold by Seller which are not directly competitive with the core products of Buyer and in which the Licensed Technology does not constitute a primary portion of the value of the total bundled or integrated product. |
Novell admits that Section 1.6 of the APA contains the text quoted by the Second Amended Complaint, in addition to other language not quoted by SCO. |
44 |
Similarly, under Section II.A.(2) of the TLA, Novell is permitted to distribute and sublicense "such Licensed Technology and modifications thereof," provided that
(i) such technology and modifications may be sublicensed and/or distributed by NOVELL solely as part of a bundled or integrated offering ("Composite Offering"); (ii) such Composite Offering shall not be directly competitive with core application server offerings of SCO, and (iii) the Licensed Technology shall not constitute a primary portion of the value of such Composite Offering. |
Novell admits that Section II.A.(2) of the Technology License Agreement contains the text quoted by the Second Amended Complaint, in addition to other language not quoted by SCO. |
45 |
The "core products" and "core application server offerings" referenced in the APA and TLA, respectively, refer to the UNIX and UnixWare operating systems owned by Santa Cruz upon the closing date. Even before acquiring the UNIX source code, Santa Cruz had been primarily involved in the business of distributing UNIX in binary form, so that with the acquisition of the UNIX and UnixWare source code and copyrights, the UNIX and UnixWare operating systems undoubtedly represented Santa Cruz's "core products." In addition, as of the closing date, Santa Cruz had no "application server offering" other than UNIX and UnixWare operating systems. |
Novell is without sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of the averment that "as of the closing date, Santa Cruz had no 'application server offering' other than UNIX and UnixWare operating systems." Each and every other allegation in paragraph 45 is denied. |
46 |
On November 4, 2003, Novell announced its acquisition of SuSE Linux, one of the world's leading distributors of Linux. Since that time, Novell began distributing Linux worldwide. |
Novell admits that it announced its agreement to acquire SuSE Linux, a leading distributer of Linux, on November 4, 2003. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 46 is denied. |
47 |
On December 22, 2005, SCO filed with the Court in the SCO v. IBM case a compilation of 293 disclosures of technology which IBM has made to enhance Linux (in violation of its agreements with SCO) with the stated objective of making Linux a more enterprise-hardened operating system. |
Novell admits that on December 22, 2005 SCO filed a Disclosure of Material Misused by IBM in the SCO v. IBM litigation. Novell is without sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining averments of paragraph 47. |
48 |
Linux contains SCO's UNIX technology, including unauthorized UNIX System V source code, derivatives and modifications, methods and concepts contributed to Linux by IBM in violation of its license agreements with SCO. Thus, Linux contains the Licensed Technology which, pursuant to Section 1.6 of the APA and Section II.A.(2) of the TLA, Novell covenanted not to distribute in an operating system. |
Denied. |
49 |
As a general-purpose operating system, Linux is "directly competitive" with SCO's core application server offerings. |
Denied. |
50 |
Furthermore, the measure of UNIX technology in Linux far exceeds the trivial portions that the parties intended Novell was authorized to use, in Netware, pursuant to the TLA. Whereas UNIX became enterprise-ready after decades of development, Linux matured into a powerful enterprise-ready operating system in a few years, due primarily to the UNIX technology wrongly contributed by IBM into Linux. |
Novell admits that Linux has matured due to the independent, collaborative efforts of a devoted Linux development community. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 50 is denied. |
51 |
Novell therefore breached Section 1.6 of the APA and Section II.A.(2) of the TLA. |
Denied. |
52 |
Novell has also infringed and continues to infringe SCO's copyrights in UNIX by copying, reproducing, modifying, sublicensing, and/or distributing UNIX intellectual property as part of its Linux business. |
Denied. |
D. Novell's Wrongful Attempts to Expand Its Rights Under the APA |
53 |
Under Section 4.16 of the APA, Novell retained the right to continue receiving royalties that SCO collected from then-existing SVRX licensees for their distribution of binary-code versions of System V products pursuant to sublicensing agreements. Novell also retained the right to direct SCO to take certain actions, or in the event it failed to take those actions, to take those actions on its behalf, for the sole purpose of protecting that same binary royalty stream. Since 1996 until 2003, Novell operated in accordance with this procedure and understanding. |
Novell admits that it retained significant rights under Section 4.16 of the APA, including the right to receive royalties, fees, and amounts due under SVRX license agreements, but denies that any of its 4.16 rights are limited to "then-existing SVRX licensees for their distribution of binary-code versions of System V pursuant to sublicensing agreements." Each and every other allegation in paragraph 53 is denied. |
54 |
Under Sections 1.2(b) and 1.2(f) of the APA, Novell also retained the right to conduct audits to protect the same binary royalties. |
Novell admits that it retained significant audit rights under APA Sections 1.2(b) and 1.2(f). Each and every other allegation in paragraph 54 is denied. |
55 |
Under the APA, however, Novell did not retain any right to conduct audits, direct SCO to take any actions, or take actions on SCO's behalf with respect to matters other than the SVRX binary royalty stream. |
Denied. |
56 |
On information and belief, IBM invested $50 million in Novell stock to help finance Novell's purchase of SuSE, and Novell and IBM have continued and expanded product and marketing arrangements that existed between IBM and SuSE. As Mr. Messman declared in a letter to SCO dated, May 28, 2003, "Novell is an ardent supporter of Linux and the open source community." Novell is one of IBM's major Linux partners. Both companies were acknowledged members of the so-called Chicago 7, which was formed at least in part to address and/or oppose SCO's efforts to protect its intellectual property. |
Novell admits that in conjunction with Novell's offer to acquire SuSE Linux AG, on March 23, 2004, it entered into a definitive agreement with IBM in which IBM purchased 1,000 shares of Novell Series B redeemable preferred shared convertible into 8 million shares of Novell common stock at price of $6.25 per share, with the Series B shares being entitled to a dividend of 2% per annum, payable quarterly in cash. Novell admits that the quoted text appears in Jack Messman's letter to Darl McBride dated May 28, 2003. Novell further admits that it is one of IBM's Linux distributors. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 56 is denied. |
57 |
In an effort, among other things, to protect its Linux partnership with IBM, Novell has erroneously and in bad faith attempted to extend its rights under Sections 4.16, 1.2(b), and 1.2(f) to agreements and matters not subject to those provisions. |
Denied. |
58 |
On June 9, 2003, for example, Novell purported to direct SCO to waive its right to terminate its Software License Agreement with IBM, even though that source-code agreement by definition was not for binary royalties and therefore did not come under the purview of Sections 4.16, 1.2(b), and 1.2(f), and even though Novell had no ongoing royalty stream from IBM that it needed to protect. On June 12, 2003, Novell invoked its purported right under Section 4.16(b) to waive and revoke SCO's proper termination of IBM's UNIX license agreements. |
Denied. |
59 |
Similarly, on October 10, 2003, Novell purported to waive and revoke for SCO its claims against IBM for breach of its Sequent Software License Agreement with SCO. |
Novell admits that, on October 10, 2003, following SCO's failure to take the actions directed in Novell's June 9, 2003 and June 12, 2003 letters to SCO, Novell elected to take actions on SCO's behalf, as Novell is empowered to do under § 4.16(b) of the APA. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 59 is denied. |
60 |
Novell has alleged that its rights under Sections 4.16, 1.2(b), and 1.2(f) extend to SCO's 2003 agreements with Sun and Microsoft, as well as SCO's SCOsource intellectual property agreements, even though those agreements did not involve the SVRX binary royalty stream and were not even in existence at the time the APA was executed. |
Novell admits that it alleges SCO failed to comply with it royalty obligations under §§ 1.2(b), 1.2(f) & 4.16 of the APA in connection with SCO's 2003 agreements with Sun Microsystems and Microsoft and its SCOsource intellectual property agreements. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 60 is denied. |
61 |
Such actions by Novell are contrary to its agreements with SCO and were calculated to interfere with SCO's agreements with IBM and others, block SCO's efforts to enforce its claims and rights related to UNIX, and misrepresent to the marketplace that Novell, and not SCO, owns UNIX. |
Denied. |
62 |
Novell's wrongful conduct is also willful and in bad faith in light of its previous attempt to expand its rights under Section 4.16 in collaboration with IBM. |
Denied. |
63 |
On April 26, 1996, without the consent of Santa Cruz, Novell attempted to enlarge IBM's rights to the UNIX source code and grant IBM a buyout of its SVRX binary royalty obligations, by entering with IBM into a purported amendment to the IBM UNIX license agreements transferred to SCO by the APA. |
Novell admits that pursuant to its APA rights, Novell, acting on its behalf and on behalf of Santa Cruz, entered into an agreement with IBM on April 26, 1996, amending various license agreements between IBM and AT&T (the "IBM-AT&T Agreements"), pertaining to certain releases of UNIX System V software. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 63 is denied. |
64 |
In a letter to Novell dated April 23, 1996, SCO intervened by explaining, among other things, that the APA and related agreements provided SCO "ownership and exclusive rights to license the UNIX source code." |
Novell admits that Alok Mohan of SCO sent a letter to Bob Frankenberg of Novell on April 23, 1996, containing the quoted text. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 64 is denied. |
65 |
After SCO further disputed Novell's authority to grant IBM the buyout, the parties entered into Amendment X to IBM's software and sublicensing agreements in UNIX. As compared with Novell's thwarted amendment, Amendment X, among other things:
a) replaced Novell with SCO as the party to the bargained-for exchange with IBM; b) more than quadrupled the monetary consideration, from $2,375,000 to $10,125,000; c) contracted IBM's source-code rights; and d) set forth SCO's exclusive right to audit IBM's compliance with the restrictions on its use of the licensed source code. |
Novell admits that Novell, Santa Cruz, and IBM executed an agreement referred to as "Amendment X" that replaced and was substantially similar to the April 26, 1996 Agreement. Like the April 26, 1996 Agreement, Amendment X provided that IBM's rights under the IBM-AT&T Agreements (including relating to source code) are irrevocable, fully paid-up, and perpetual, such that Novell and Santa Cruz no longer had any termination right with respect IBM's rights under these agreements. Amendment X also provided that, under the APA, Novell retained certain rights relating to the IBM-AT&T Agreements. SCO received a qualified right to have an independent accounting firm audit IBM's pertinent records. IBM agreed to pay $10,125,000 as consideration for Amendment X. Novell denies each and every other allegation in paragraph 65. |
66 |
In addition, Amendment X voided Novell's unauthorized amendment, by providing: "The Amendment dated April 26, 1996 between IBM, and Novell, on behalf of itself, and SCO, is hereby replaced in its entirety." |
Novell admits that Amendment X contains the quoted text. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 66 is denied. |
67 |
Had Novell owned the copyrights or possessed the authority to waive, revoke, or otherwise control the rights to source code, it would have stood by its April 26, 1996 purported amendment; SCO would have had no right to, in effect, veto that unauthorized amendment; and IBM would not have acquiesced to that veto. |
Denied. |
68 |
Amendment X is thus contemporaneous evidence that Novell considered Santa Cruz the sole and exclusive owner of the copyrights and source code and that Novell recognized that it lacked the authority to waive, revoke, or otherwise control claims or rights related to the UNIX source code, generally and with regard to IBM specifically. |
Denied. |
69 |
To prevent a recurrence of the events leading to Amendment X, the parties decided to clarify Section 4.16 of the APA by entering into Amendment No. 2 to the APA on the same date they executed Amendment X. Paragraph B..5 of Amendment No. 2 provides:
This Amendment does not give Novell the right to increase any SVRX licensee's rights to SVRX source code, nor does it give Novell the right to grant new SVRX source code licenses. In addition, Novell may not prevent SCO from exercising its rights with respect to SVRX source code in accordance with the [APA]. |
Novell admits that Novell and Santa Cruz executed Amendment No. 2 to the APA on the same day they executed Amendment X. Section B of Amendment No. 2, which was to govern potential buy-outs of an SVRX licensee's royalty obligations occurring after the execution of Amendment X, contains the quoted text. Novell denies each and every other allegation in paragraph 69. |
70 |
Thus, Amendment No. 2 made it redundantly clear that Novell had retained no rights to control SCO's sole exclusive ownership of the source code and associated license agreements. In fact, Amendment No. 2 made clear that Novell could not unilaterally agree to a buyout even of SVRX royalties. Even with respect to its interests in the binary royalty stream, therefore, Novell lacked the authority to waste or forego the royalties, or to grant a licensee a buyout of its relationship with SCO. |
Denied. |
71 |
Despite plain language to the contrary in Paragraph B.5, Novell has attempted to increase a "SVRX licensee's rights to SVRX source code," "prevent SCO from exercising its rights with respect to SVRX source code," and effectively "grant new SVRX source code licenses," by purporting to waive and revoke SCO's claims and rights against IBM. |
Denied. |
F. Novell's Prior Conduct Belies Claims |
72 |
During the years between the signing of the APA (in September 1995) and about May 2003, the parties' dealings and course of conduct evidenced their understanding that the APA had transferred the business to Santa Cruz, including the copyrights. |
Denied. |
73 |
As stated, Novell and Santa Cruz entered into the TLA, which licensed back to Novell the UNIX and UnixWare technology transferred under the APA. Had Novell retained the copyrights under the APA, it would have been irrational for Novell to execute a license-back agreement for technology already covered by the copyrights it purportedly owned. Thus, the TLA, without more, evidences Novell's understanding that the APA had transferred the copyrights to SCO. |
Novell admits that Novell and Santa Cruz entered into the TLA at the time of the APA closings. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 73 is denied. |
74 |
Though, at the time they executed Amendment No. 2, the parties shared the understanding that APA intended to and did transfer the copyrights to Santa Cruz, they decided to take advantage of the opportunity afforded them by Amendment No. 2 to further clarify the APA by reiterating the transfer of copyrights. |
Denied. |
75 |
Amendment No. 2 made clear that Novell had transferred to SCO the "copyrights and trademarks owned by Novell as of the date of the [APA] required for SCO to exercise its rights with respect to the acquisition of UNIX and UnixWare technologies," and that Novell would no longer be liable to any party bringing a claim "pertaining to said copyrights and trademarks." |
Denied. |
76 |
During the seven-plus years between the signing of the APA and about May 2003, Novell also did not question, much less challenge, SCO's open and public conduct as the sole and exclusive owner of the UNIX and UnixWare business, including the copyrights. |
Denied. |
77 |
As an obvious example, SCO distributed its UNIX and UnixWare source-code and binary products widely, with copyright notices in its name. During those years, Novell did not allege that SCO's use and distribution of those products infringed Novell's copyrights. Nor did Novell dispute SCO's public claims of copyright ownership in any way. |
Novell admits that during the years between the signing of the APA and May 2003, it retained (and still does retain) ownership of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights. SCO acknowledged Novell's copyright ownership during this time perdio of time, as SCO repeatedly requested in 2002 and 2003 that Novell amend the APA and transfer the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights to SCO. Novell is without sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining averments of paragraph 77. |
78 |
In a reported transaction consummated in 2001, Santa Cruz transferred the UNIX and Unixware business to SCO (then operating as Caldera). Despite the public nature of that transaction, Novell again did not dispute Santa Cruz's claim of ownership, or transfer, of the business, including the copyrights. |
Novell admits that in 2000, Santa Cruz entered into an agreement with Caldera Systems whereby Caldera acquired Santa Cruz's UNIX server solutions and services divisions. Novell further admits that in 2001, Caldera International was formed as a holding company to own Caldera Systems, including the former Santa Cruz UNIX Server Solutions and Services Assets. Novell denies each and every other allegation in paragraph 78. |
79 |
During those years, Novell conducted one audit pursuant to Section 1.2(b) of the APA. Novell limited that audit to a review of SCO's administration of the SVRX binary royalty stream. Novell did not request or receive other information concerning the UNIX and UnixWare business, including any accounting of source-code licenses or fees. |
Novell admits that between the signing of the APA and May 2003, Novell conducted one audit pursuant to section 1.2(b) of the APA. Novell denies each and every other allegation in paragraph 79. |
80 |
As a result of these and other examples of the parties' shared understanding of the meaning and intent of the APA, it was widely known in the software industry (including by IBM) that SCO owned and freely exercised its copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare. |
Denied. |
81 |
Indeed, the law firms that represented Novell and Santa Cruz in negotiating and executing the APA, Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati ("WSGR") and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP ("Brobeck"), respectively, also represented Santa Cruz and Caldera, respectively, during the subsequent transfer of the business to Caldera. |
Novell admits that the law firms that represented Novell and Santa Cruz in negotiating and executing the APA, Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, respectively, also represented Santa Cruz and Caldera, respectively, during the subsequent transfer of certain Santa Cruz assets to Caldera. Novell denies each and every other allegation in paragraph 81 to the extent they purport to evidence an understanding by or knowledge of the parties to the APA or in the software industry that SCO owned and freely exercised copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare. |
82 |
It was not until about May 2003 (only weeks after SCO filed its lawsuit against IBM and just months before Novell announced its Linux partnership with IBM) that Novell suddenly reversed its conduct of seven-plus years. |
Denied. |
G. In the Alternative, Novell Should be Ordered to Effectuate the Transfer |
83 |
In its public statements, Novell has alleged that the APA (even together with Amendment No. 2) is a writing insufficient to have transferred the copyrights under Section 204(a) of the Copyright Act. Even if (contrary to precedent) this were true, SCO would be entitled to a transfer of the copyrights under the terms of the APA. |
Novell admits that it has alleged in this lawsuit that the APA and its Amendments do not constitute writings sufficient to have transferred copyrights under section 204(a) of the Copyright Act. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 83 is denied. |
84 |
The parties to the APA repeatedly covenanted to take further actions necessary to consummate the transfer of the business to SCO. |
Novell admits that Novell and Santa Cruz agreed to the provisions set forth in sections 1.7(c), 4.9, and 4.12 of the APA. To the extent that SCO believes these provisions support a transfer of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights from Novell to SCO, each and every other allegation in paragraph 84 is denied. |
85 |
Section 1.7(c) of the APA provides:
(c) Taking of Necessary Action: Further Action. If, at any time after the Closing Date, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement the parties agree to take, and will take, all such lawful and necessary and/or desirable action. |
Novell admits that the APA contains the quoted text in Paragraph 85. |
86 |
Section 4.9 of the APA provides in part:
4.9 Commercially Reasonable Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions provided in this Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take promptly, or cause to be taken all actions, and to do promptly, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated hereby .... |
Novell admits that the APA contains the quoted text in Paragraph 86. |
87 |
Section 4.12 of the APA provides:
4.12 Additional Documents and Further Assurances. Each party hereto, at the request of another party hereto, shall execute and deliver such other instruments and do and perform such other acts and things as may be necessary or desirable for effecting completely the consummation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein. |
Novell admits that the APA contains the quoted text in Paragraph 87. |
88 |
The parties to the APA intended for the APA to transfer the business, including the copyrights, to Santa Cruz. As the successor-in-interest to Santa Cruz, SCO alleges that it is the current owner of the business, including the copyrights. In the alternative, if it is determined that the APA did not effectuate the transfer intended by the parties to the APA, Novell must take the actions necessary to effectuate that transaction in order to comply with Sections 1.7(c), 4.9, and 4.12 of the APA. |
Denied. |
IV. CLAIMS FOR RELIEF FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Slander of Title) |
89 |
SCO re-alleges and incorporates all prior paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. |
Novell re-incorporates its answers to all prior paragraphs as if fully set forth here in full. |
90 |
SCO is the sole and exclusive owner of all copyrights related to UNIX and UnixWare source code and all documentation and peripheral code and systems related thereto. |
Denied. |
91 |
Novell has slandered SCO's title and rights to its UNIX and UnixWare copyrights and damaged SCO's business reputation and potential contractual relationships with potential customers by making false oaths of ownership to public officials, and by repeatedly representing both to the public in general and directly to several of SCO's customers and potential customers that Novell, and not SCO, owns UNIX and UnixWare and the copyrights. |
Denied. |
92 |
Novell's representations regarding its purported ownership of UNIX and UnixWare copyrights are patently false, and Novell made such representations intentionally, maliciously, and with the utter disregard for the truthfulness thereof. |
Denied. |
93 |
As a consequence of Novell's conduct as alleged herein, SCO has incurred actual and special damages in an amount to be proven at trial. |
Denied. |
94 |
SCO has also incurred significant attorneys' fees and costs in attempting to remove the cloud Novell has placed on SCO's title to UNIX and UnixWare, including but not limited to attorneys' fees incurred in researching and reviewing Novell's improper copyright registrations; attempting to mitigate damages by correcting and responding to Novell's false representations made to third parties; and in prosecuting this and other actions to protect SCO's title to UNIX and UnixWare and related rights. |
Denied. |
95 |
Novell's conduct as alleged herein was intentionally and maliciously designed to destroy SCO's valuable rights to the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights and further destroy SCO's business livelihood and damage its shareholders. As such, this Court should impose an award of punitive damages against Novell in an amount to be proven at trial. |
Denied. |
SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Breach of the APA and TLA) |
96 |
SCO re-alleges and incorporates all prior paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. |
Novell re-incorporates its answers to all prior paragraphs as if fully set forth here in full. |
97 |
Novell has materially breached Section 1.6 of the APA and Section II.A.(2) of the TLA by distributing the Licensed Technology as part of a product (Linux) that is directly competitive with SCO's core server operating systems. |
Denied. |
98 |
Novell has materially breached Section 1.6 of the APA and Section II.A.(2) of the TLA by distributing the Licensed Technology as part of a product (Linux) wherein that technology constitutes a primary portion of the value of that product. |
Denied. |
99 |
Novell has also breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing under the APA and TLA by affirmatively seeking to deprive SCO of the benefits to which it is entitled under those agreements, through numerous acts of bad faith, including without limitation: (a) making false and misleading statements denying SCO's ownership of the copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare; (b) undermining the business that it sold to SCO by distributing UNIX technology in Linux, in violation of the APA's and TLA's non-compete provisions; and (c) purporting to waive and revoke SCO's rights and claims against IBM. |
Denied. |
100 |
Novell's breaches of the APA and TLA have caused SCO damage in an amount to be proved at trial. Those breaches have also caused SCO special damages, including without limitation the costs of prosecuting this action. |
Denied. |
THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Alternative Breach-of-Contract Claim Seeking Specific Performance) |
101 |
SCO re-alleges and incorporates all prior paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. |
Novell re-incorporates its answers to all prior paragraphs as if fully set forth here in full. |
102 |
UNIX and UnixWare, as well as the copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare, are unique and possess special value. |
Denied. |
103 |
The intent of the parties to the APA, and the purpose and effect of the APA, were to transfer the UNIX and UnixWare business, including all copyrights, to SCO's predecessor in interest, Santa Cruz. |
Denied. |
104 |
Under Sections 1.7(c), 4.9, and 4.12 of the APA, Novell is obligated to take all actions necessary to effectuate the purposes of the APA and consummate the transactions contemplated therein. |
Denied, to the extent that SCO alleges that APA sections 1.7(c), 4.9 and 4.12 support a transfer of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights from Novell to SCO. |
105 |
In its public statements, including its pleadings in this lawsuit, Novell has repeatedly claimed that the APA (even as amended) did not transfer the copyrights to SCO. |
Admitted. |
106 |
In its public statements, including its pleadings in this lawsuit, Novell has repeatedly claimed that, under the APA, it retained the right to take, or direct SCO to take, certain actions (such as waiving SCO's claims against IBM) that extinguish the value of the UNIX and UnixWare business. |
Novell admits that, under the APA, it retained the right to take, or direct SCO to take, certain actions, such as waiving SCO's claim to terminate the IBM SVRX Licenses. Each and every other allegation in paragraph 106 is denied. |
107 |
In light of these continuing claims by Novell, SCO is entitled (as an alternative to its other claims for relief) to an order directing Novell to specifically perform its obligations under Sections 1.7(c), 4.9, and 4.12, by taking the actions necessary to effectuate the intended purposes of the APA and consummate the transactions contemplated therein. |
Denied. |
108 |
In particular, SCO is entitled to an order directing Novell to execute documents (and take any other actions) necessary to transfer to SCO (a) the copyrights and (b) the UNIX and UnixWare business, without subjecting any portion of that business, other than the SVRX binary royalty stream, to Sections 4.16, 1.2(b), and 1.2(f) of the APA. |
Denied. |
FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Copyright Infringement) |
109 |
SCO re-alleges and incorporates all prior paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. |
Novell re-incorporates its answer to all prior paragraphs as if fully set forth here in full. |
110 |
The APA transferred all right, title, and interest to and in the copyrights in UNIX, UnixWare, and various supporting documents to SCO, through its predecessor in interest. |
Denied. |
111 |
SCO is the sole and exclusive owner of the copyrights in UNIX, UnixWare, and the associated supporting materials. |
Denied. |
112 |
As shown on Exhibit A, SCO and its predecessors properly registered, at a minimum, copyrights in UNIX, UnixWare, and the associated supporting materials describing the UNIX system. |
Denied. |
113 |
Pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 410(c), SCO's certificates of copyright registrations constitute prima facie evidence of the validity of the copyrights and the facts stated in the certificates. SCO's registrations of its copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare are entitled to that statutory presumption. |
Denied. |
114 |
SCO and its predecessors created and developed the intellectual property covered by the copyrights as original works of authorship, and as such, those materials automatically became subject to copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 102(a) when they were fixed in a tangible medium of expression. |
Denied. |
115 |
Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 106 extends to derivative works, which are defined in 17 U.S.C. § 101 to include works based on the original work and any other form in which the original work may be recast, transformed, modified, or adapted. |
Novell cannot admit or deny this statement because it purports to characterize the law of the United States. |
116 |
Novell has infringed and continues to infringe SCO's copyrights by copying, reproducing, modifying, sublicensing, and/or distributing Linux products containing unauthorized contributions of SCO's copyrighted intellectual property. |
Denied. |
117 |
Novell's unauthorized copying in its use and distribution of SuSE Linux includes but is not limited to the appropriation of numerous data structures and algorithms contained in or derived from SCO's copyrighted material. A partial listing of these data structures and algorithms is provided at Exhibit B. |
Denied. |
118 |
In addition, under the specific terms and conditions set forth in the TLA and for the limited purpose of the TLA, SCO granted Novell a non-exclusive license to the technologies covered by SCO's copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare. Novell expressly coventanted not to use those technologies in a general-purpose operating system that competes with SCO's core application server products or in a product wherein that intellectual property constitutes a primary portion of the value of the product. Novell has infringed and is infringing SCO's copyrights by using, copying, reproducing, modifying, sublicensing, and distributing SCO's copyrighted intellectual property outside of the limited license provided by the TLA. |
Denied. |
119 |
As a result of Novell's infringing acts, SCO has been damaged and is entitled to actual damages and Novell's profits resulting from those acts, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §l 504(a); statutory damages, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504(b); and enhanced damages, costs, and attorney's fees pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 505. |
Denied. |
120 |
In addition, because Novell's conduct has caused, and if not enjoined, will continue to cause irreparable harm to SCO without an adequate remedy at law, SCO is entitled to injunctive relief pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 502. |
Denied. |
FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Unfair Competition) |
121 |
SCO re-alleges and incorporates all prior paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. |
Novell re-incorporates its answers to all prior paragraphs as if fully set forth here in full. |
122 |
Novell has knowingly, intentionally, and in bad faith engaged in a pattern of conduct aimed at depriving SCO of the value of its UNIX technology. Among other things, Novell has falsely claimed ownership of SCO's copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare, misappropriated SCO's UNIX technology in Linux and forced SCO to compete in the marketplace against its own intellectual property, and has wrongfully attempted to thwart SCO's rights and efforts to bring legal claims in defense of its UNIX intellectual property. |
SCO does not sufficiently plead its Fifth Claim for Relief for Unfair Competition, having failed to specify the "applicable unfair-competition law" that Novell is alleged to violate. Therefore, Novell is without sufficient information to reasonably frame a response to this averment. Novell has simultaneously filed a Motion for More Definite Statement of SCO's Unfair Competition Cause of Action. |
123 |
Novell's misconduct is likely to result in confusion, and in fact has resulted in confusion in the marketplace concerning UNIX, Linux, and other products. |
SCO does not sufficiently plead its Fifth Claim for Relief for Unfair Competition, having failed to specifiy the "applicable unfair-competition law" that Novell is alleged to violate. Therefore, Novell is without sufficient information to reasonably frame a response to this averment. Novell has simultaneously filed a Motion for More Definite Statement of SCO's Unfair Competition Cause of Action. |
124 |
As a direct result of Novell's unfair competition, SCO has and will continue to suffer damage to its business, reputation, and goodwill in an amount to be proved at trial. |
SCO does not sufficiently plead its Fifth Claim for Relief for Unfair Competition, having failed to specify the "applicable unfair-competition law" that Novell is alleged to violate. Therefore, Novell is without sufficient information to reasonably frame a response to this averment. Novell has simultaneously filed a Motion for More Definite Statement of SCO's Unfair Competition Cause of Action. |
125 |
Because Novell's misconduct is intentionally and maliciously designed to destroy SCO's valuable rights to the copyrights and further destroy SCO's business livelihood, this Court should impose punitive damages against Novell in an amount to be determined at trial. |
SCO does not sufficiently plead its Fifth Claim for Relief for Unfair Competition, having failed to specify the "applicable unfair-competition law" that Novell is alleged to violate. Therefore, Novell is without sufficient information to reasonably frame a response to this averment. Novell has simultaneously filed a Motion for More Definite Statement of SCO's Unfair Competition Cause of Action. |
126 |
SCO is entitled to and seeks restitutionary, injunctive, and other remedies as may be available under the applicable unfair-competition law. |
SCO does not sufficiently plead its Fifth Claim for Relief for Unfair Competition, having failed to specify the "applicable unfair-competition law" that Novell is alleged to violate. Therefore, Novell is without sufficient information to reasonably frame a response to this averment. Novell has simultaneously filed a Motion for More Definite Statement of SCO's Unfair Competition Cause of Action. |
V. PRAYER FOR RELIEF |
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WHEREFORE, Plaintiff SCO prays this Court enter judgment for SCO and against Novell:
- awarding SCO actual, special, enhanced, and statutory damages;
- awarding punitive damages for Novell's malicious and willful conduct as alleged herein;
- granting preliminary and permanent injunctive relief (a) requiring Novell to assign to SCO any and all copyrights Novell improperly registered in UNIX and UnixWare following the Asset Purchase Agreement; (b) preventing Novell from representing in any forum that it has any ownership interest whatsoever in those copyrights; and (c) requiring Novell to retract or withdraw all representations it has made regarding its purported ownership of the copyrights;
- granting preliminary and permanent injunctive relief preventing Novell from copying, reproducing, modifying, sublicensing, and/or distributing SCO's UNIX and UnixWare technology except as expressly provided by the TLA;
- ordering Novell, as an alternative, to specifically perform its obligations under the APA by taking the actions necessary to effectuate the purposes of the APA and consummate the transactions contemplated therein;
- awarding attorneys' fees, costs, and pre- and post-judgment interest; and
- granting all other legal and equitable relief deemed just and proper by this Court.
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Novell states that the enumerated paragraphs 1-7 following SCO's Prayer for Relief include requests for relief as to which no response is required. To the extent a response is required, Novell denies that SCO is entitled to the requested or any relief. |
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