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A Chart of Novell's Counterclaims and SCO's Reply |
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Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 01:47 PM EDT
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Here's the chart I told you I was working on of Novell's Counterclaims matched with SCO's Reply to Novell's Counterclaims [PDF], paragraph by paragraph. The Counterclaims are taken from Novell's Answer to SCO's Second Amended Complaint and Counterclaims, and they are found after paragraph 149. The numbering then begins again with 1 for the counterclaims. I see a couple of interesting things, and I'm only up to paragraph 7. As you will see, I think Novell is saying that the USL to Novell deal was not a 100% transfer. This might impact on SCO's right to sue over the Sequent license. It's a bit complicated to explain but if you hang in there for the complete explanation, I'll try to explain what I think I see. You know how we've seen that Boies Schiller fights hard over every little detail? I see that Novell's attorneys are the same. They raise every possible issue, missing no detail whatsoever. Lawyers have a choice. They can choose to battle over what they think matters most and let some lesser points slide, or they can sink their teeth into everything and give up nothing at all without a fight. Here I'm seeing two bulldogs. So this should be some battle of the titans. The SCO litigation is endlessly fascinating to me. Just when I think everything's been said -- with the exception of what specific code SCO is talking about, of course, which we never seem to get to -- something new pops up.
First, though, in paragraph 3, we see that SCO is not admitting Novell's assertion that the UnitedLinux agreements require arbitration of certain claims. SCO was supposed to file its response to Novell's Motion to Stay Claims Raising Issues Subject to Arbitration and its Motion for a More Definite Statement on Friday, and I have no doubt they did, but it's not in Pacer yet. That doesn't mean they didn't file it. Novell filed a document in early April, for example, that didn't show up until May, so there can be a time lag between filing with the court and a document showing up in Pacer. But clearly, from this document, we see a hint that SCO is going to oppose the stay and the arbitration. Paragraph 7 Now to the interesting detail in paragraph 7, where Novell says this: 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. I see two things. First, it says UNIX copyrights transferred; it doesn't say *all* UNIX copyrights transferred. And it says "active UNIX licensing agreements" were included in the transfer. SCO disagrees that only "active" UNIX licensing agreements passed from AT&T's subsidiary USL to Novell. Why might this matter? It may indicate that Novell's position is that AT&T may have retained some interest here, which could impact on SCO's right to enforce certain licensing agreements. SCO's assertion in its Second Amended Complaint in SCO v. IBM is that the AT&T-Novell deal was a total transfer and that is where it gets its right to sue: 47. During or about 1993, SCO's predecessor in interest, Novell, Inc. ("Novell"), acquired from AT&T all right, title and interest in and to the UNIX software code, the AT&T Software and Sublicensing Agreements, the copyrights and related and ancillary products. For branding purposes, Novell renamed UNIX as "UnixWare." Novell is here indicating that it plans to prove that this is not the case. SCO also claimed in that complaint that the Novell to SCO transfer was a 100% transfer, but Magistrate Judge Brooke Wells has already ruled that it was not and that the SCO to Caldera transaction wasn't either. Now Novell is indicating that neither was the AT&T(USL)-to-Novell deal, that only "active" license agreements transferred. I don't remember seeing that issue raised before in this litigation.
Copyright Issues
We know there is an issue over copyright ownership, with both Novell and SCO filing more or less identical copyright registrations. But to this day, the US Copyright Office still lists Unix System Laboratories as the Claimant and American Telephone & Telegraph Company as the Author of the copyright for TXu-510-028, for UNIX, 5th edition, "Computer program; with programmer's manual by K. Thompson, D. M. Ritchie." The title on the application is "UNIX operating system," created in 1973 and registered in 1992. Did this copyright transfer to Novell or not? The earliest copyright I see Novell registered is for System V, release 2, judging from their page listing their copyright registrations. Novell and SCO are asserting identical copyright registrations, but what about the listed AT&T copyright? Here it is as a PDF, but you can search the Copyright Office by Registration Number TXu-510-028 and you'll find it for yourself. 6th edition is TXu--511-236. Or search for TXu-301-868 and see what you find, or for "Unix operating system". There are others listed on Groklaw's Contracts page in the copyrights section. AT&T/USL are listed for the copyright for TXu-516-704, UNIX operating system, Ed. 32V and for TXu-516-705, UNIX operating system, Ed.7 too. This falls in the Holy Methods and Concepts category, and I hope one of you will take the time to put these copyrights and manuals into our Unix Books methods and concepts database. But it also raises the issue of whether the AT&T/USL-Novell deal transferred everything or not. Novell is saying not, and SCO says it did. These copyright registrations tilt more toward Novell's position, I'd say.
Right to Enforce
But this dispute in paragraph 7 raises a different issue. SCO, in its Second Amended Complaint in the IBM litigation says that its right to sue IBM stems from the following: 31. SCO is the sole and exclusive owner of all Software and Sublicensing Agreements that control use, distribution and sublicensing of UNIX System V and all modifications thereof and derivative works based thereon. SCO is also the sole and exclusive owner of copyrights related to UNIX System V source code and documentation and peripheral code and systems related thereto.
If they don't have any rights to enforce licenses regarding earlier versions of UNIX on contracts that did not pass to Novell, it could matter very, very much. To illustrate, you'll remember that IBM's original license was entered into in 1985 for System V, version 2.0 and in 1989, the parties worked out a letter agreement for System V release 3.1, as you can see from this letter agreement [PDF], and then Amendment X brought it up to 3.2, so theoretically, just looking at the facts to this point, it could impact whether SCO has any rights of enforcement regarding the original agreement. However, in the case of IBM, I don't think AT&T retained the IBM agreements, because in Amendment X, signed by SCO, Novell and IBM in October of 1996, the recitals include the following: AT&T Technologies, Inc. ("AT&T") and IBM entered into various software license agreements concerning the Software Product: UNIX System V, Release 3.2, which are Software Agreement SOFT-00015 as amended, Sublicensing Agreement SUB-00015A as amended, Software Agreement SOFT-00015 Supplement No. 170 as amended (or any other Supplements that pertain to prior versions or releases of the Software Product), and Substitution Agreement XFER-00015B (the "Related Agreements"). Novell acquired AT&T's rights under the Related Agreements. In an agreement between Novell and SCO dated September 19, 1995 (the "Asset Purchase Agreement"), SCO purchased, and Novell retained, certain rights with respect to the Related Agreements. However, while it wouldn't help IBM regarding its license, it could impact on SCO's rights to enforce the Sequent licenses, I think, and since most of SCO's surviving claims in its Second Amended Complaint relate to Sequent's Dynix, referencing these very documents, this detail could prove significant indeed. Is there any proof that Sequent's 1985 contract [PDF] was later transferred to Novell? Paragraph 7 raises that question, and I think SCO will now have to try to prove that it did. Sequent had a 1983 agreement for System V, release 2.0, as you can see by the reference in this Substitution Agreement dated January 1986 [PDF]. Perhaps the 1985 agreement brought it up to 3.X. The document we have doesn't indicate. But my understanding is that Sequent's NUMA code is derived from BSD, not System V, and BSD, after the USL-UCal Regents settlement agreement in 1994 was freely available. Sequent and IBM merged in the fall of 1999, which is after the USL-Novell 1993 asset transfer, but the question I see, taken from Novell's paragraph 7, is: was the Sequent license on the early releases still "active" and hence part of the transfer? Or not? I have no idea, but in this little detail, I see a world of possibilities.
You may notice the wording SCO uses at the beginning, "Admits, based on the Court's Order dated June 9, 2004, that the Court has jurisdiction over SCO's Second Amended Complaint..." and again admits jurisdiction over the counterclaims. If you'd like to read that order, here it is. It denied SCO's motion to remand the case to state court. ****************************
¶ | Novell Counterclaims |
SCO Reply |
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 principal product development
facility is located in Provo, Utah. Novell also has offices in numerous cities
worldwide. |
Admits the allegations of ¶ 1, except denies knowledge sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of the third sentence of ¶ 1. |
2 |
Counterclaim-defendant The SCO Group, Inc. ("SCO") is a Delaware
corporation with its principle place of business in Utah County, State of Utah.
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Admits the allegations of ¶ 2. |
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. |
Admits, based on the Court's Order dated June 9, 2004, that the Court has jurisdiction over SCO's Second Amended Complaint; admits that Caldera signed certain UnitedLinux agreements in becoming a founding member of UnitedLinux in May 2002; admits that on April 10, 2006, Novell re-filed its Counterclaims and filed a motion to stay these proceedings; denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 3; and to the extent ¶ 3 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. This Court has supplemental jurisdiction over Novell's
state law claims of breach of contract, accounting, restitution and slander
of title. |
Admits, based on the Court's Order dated June 9, 2004, that the Court has jurisdiction over Novell's counterclaims. |
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. |
Admits that venue is proper in this judicial district for the reasons set forth in ¶ 5; and to the extent that ¶ 5 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of ¶ 6. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of ¶ 7, except denies the allegations that AT&T transferred to Novell only "active" UNIX licensing agreements. |
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. |
Admits that Linus Torvalds purportedly developed the Linux operating system by consulting and referring to other materials; admits that numerous other parties have also contributed to Linux, including parties who wrongfully contributed SCO's UNIX intellectual property; but denies information or knowledge sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of each and every other allegation of ¶ 8. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of the first sentence of ¶ 9, but denies the second sentence of ¶ 9 to the extent it alleges that SCO intellectual property in Linux is legally and properly available to the public. |
C. The Asset Purchase Agreement Between Novell and The Santa Cruz
Operation, 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. |
Admits that in 1995, Novell ("Seller") and The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc. ("Santa Cruz") entered into negotiations resulting in the transfer to Santa Cruz of "all of Seller's right, title and interest in and to the assets and properties of Seller relating to the [UNIX and UnixWare] Business" (the "UNIX business"), including the copyright in UNIX and UnixWare; but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 10. |
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. |
Admits that Santa Cruz was founded and operated as a UNIX development, porting, distribution, support, and consulting company; and admits the other allegations of ¶ 11. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of ¶ 12. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of ¶ 13. |
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. |
Admits that the APA transferred to Santa Cruz "all of Seller's right, title and interest in and to the assets and properties of Seller relating to the [UNIX and UnixWare] Business," including (among other things) the copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare, the assignment of thousands of contracts and licenses, source code and binary code to UNIX and UnixWare; and the other assets listed in the first sentence of ¶ 14; admits that Santa Cruz agreed to complete (subsequent to the transaction set forth in the APA) a "Merged Product" for the Intel platform; but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 14. |
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), 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. |
Admits that, to help bridge the gap between the purchase price of the UNIX business and the price Santa Cruz could afford, the parties agreed to a narrow exception to the complete transfer of the UNIX business; that pursuant to this exception Novell retained the right to continue receiving royalties that SCO then collected from then-existing SVRX licenses for their distribution of binary (object) code versions of System V products pursuant to sublicensing agreements; and that Novell retained the right to conduct audits, and direct Santa Cruz to take certain actions, to protect that binary royalty stream. SCO, however, denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 15; and to the extent ¶ 15 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of the first three sentences of ¶ 16 to the extent those allegations refer only to the SVRX binary royalty stream (as described in ¶ 15, above); and admits the allegations of the last sentence of ¶ 16. |
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." |
Admits the allegations of ¶ 17, except denies the allegation that Novell retained, or that the parties to the APA intended for Novell to retain, the copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare under Schedule 1.1(b) or any other schedule or provision of the APA. |
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. |
Admits that Novell retained certain rights to audit Santa Cruz's administration of the SVRX binary royalty stream; denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 18; and to the extent ¶ 18 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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 "investigate and perform appropriate auditing and enforcement." The APA also
required Santa Cruz to provide Novell monthly reports detailing the SVRX
royalties it received. |
Admits the allegations of ¶ 19 only to the extent they refer to the rights and obligations of the parties with respect to the SVRX binary royalty stream (as described in ¶ 15, above). |
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. |
Admits the allegations of the first three sentences of ¶ 20, but denies each and every other allegations of ¶ 20. |
21 |
D. Novell's Ownership of the UNIX Copyrights 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." |
D. Novell's Alleged Ownership of the UNIX Copyrights Admits that the APA transferred to Santa Cruz all of Novell's right, title, and interest in and to Novell's assets and properties relating to the UNIX business; admits that certain limited assets were excluded from the transfer, but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 21, including the allegation that the APA did not transfer to Santa Cruz the copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare. |
22 |
The APA as executed on September 19, 1995 therefore does not transfer
any copyrights. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 22; and to the extent ¶ 22 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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.
|
Admits that Novell and Santa Cruz executed Amendment 2 to the APA; and to the extent ¶ 23 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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"). |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 24; and to the extent ¶ 24 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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.
|
Denies the allegations of ¶ 25 (including the subparagraphs a-d); and to the extent ¶ 25 (including subparagraphs a-d) purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
26 |
Title to the UNIX Copyrights therefore remains with Novell. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 26; and to the extent ¶ 26 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 27. |
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.
|
Admits the allegations of ¶ 28. |
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 divisions. With the acquisition, Caldera Systems
planned to add Santa Cruz's UNIX server solutions and services to its
Linux business. |
Admits the allegations of the first sentence of ¶ 29, but denies each and every other allegation of ¶29. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of ¶ 30. |
31 |
F. Caldera's Financial Woes and Its Shift in Business Strategy
Under New Leadership 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. |
F. Caldera's Financial Position and Business Strategy Admits that Caldera (like, on information and belief, Novell and nearly all other companies) did not produce a profitable Linux business; and admits the other allegations of ¶ 31. |
32 |
After the acquisition of Santa Cruz's Server Software and Professional
Services divisions, 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. |
Admits that, after Caldera's acquisition of Santa Cruz's Server Software and Professional Services divisions, most of Caldera's revenue came from UNIX products and services, including approximately 90% of its total revenues at the end of fiscal year 2001 and 95% of its total revenues at the end of fiscal year 2002; admits that (at least in part because of the unauthoried use of SCO's proprietary UNIX code and other protected materials in Linux) Caldera's actual and forecasted revenues from the sale of UNIX-based products declined in the fiscal quarters following the acquisition; but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 32. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of ¶ 33. |
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. |
Admits that Caldera hired Darl McBride as its President and Chief Executive Officer in June 2002 and that Mr. McBride was responsible for Caldera's strategic direction, with input from other executives of the company; but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 34. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of ¶ 35. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of ¶ 36. |
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. |
Admits that SCO launched the SCOsource initiative to review, enforce, and defend SCO's ownership of its UNIX intellectual property (including copyrights); admits that SCO announced the SCOsource initiative in January 2003 but did not enter into an agreement under its licensing program until August 2003; and denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 37. |
38 |
G. SCO's Requests to Novell to Participate in a Licensing Scheme
and To Transfer the UNIX Copyrights 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. |
G. Communications Between SCO and Novell in Late 2002 and Early 2003 Admits that in late 2002, as part of the review of its intellectual property, SCO contacted Novell to confirm SCO's understanding that the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights had been transferred under the APA and to ask if Novell had documents concerning the APA; admits that Novell counsel and other employees repeatedly and successively asked SCO to call again at a later time after Novell had had the opportunity to research the matter; admits that in early 2003, Novell counsel agreed to sign a letter stating that the APA transferred all right, title, and interest in and to the copyrights associated with the AT&T SVRX software agreements; admits that SCO sent Novell counsel a draft of that letter but Novell responded that it was no longer interested in UNIX and would not sign; admits that Novell did not sign the letter and ceased communications with SCO; further admits that during the aforementioned conversations Novell never asserted its purported, or challenged SCO's, ownership of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights; but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 38. |
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. |
Admits that (at Novell's request, as described in ¶ 38 above) SCO contacted Novell on multiple occasions in early 2003; but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 39.
|
40 |
H. SCO's Scheme To Claim Ownership of the UNIX Copyrights
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. |
H. SCO's Efforts to Protect Its Intellectual Property
Denies the allegations of ¶ 40. |
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 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."
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
acquired 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...."
|
Denies the allegations of the introductory sentence of ¶ 41. a. Admits the allegations of subparagraph 41(a).
b. Admits the allegations of subparagraph 41(b).
c. Admits the allegations of subparagraph 41(c).
d. Admits that in 2003 and 2004, SCO properly registerd its copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare, including its copyrights in the UNIX and UnixWare releases listed in subparagraph 41(d); denies each and every other allegation of subparagraph 41(d); and to the extent subparagraph 41(d) purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required.
e. Admits the allegations of subparagraph 41(e).
f. Admits the allegations of subparagraph 41(f).
|
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.
|
Admits that on or about July 21, 2003, Darl McBride made the statement quoted in part in ¶ 42; but denies each and every other allegaton of ¶ 42. |
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." |
Denies that Novell did not acquiesce to SCO's ownership claims during the years between the execution of the APA (in September 1995) and about May 2003; further denies, as described below in SCO's response to subparagraph 43(b), that Novell did not acquiesce to SCO's ownership claims in June 2004.
a. Admits that on May 12, 2003, Darl McBride sent Novell a letter setting forth the statements therein.
b. Admits that, in response to Mr. McBride's May 2003 letter, Novell CEO Jack Messman sent SCO a May 28, 2003 letter (published in several newspapers and other publications) stating that "SCO is not the owner of the UNIX copyrights" -- a statement that Novell recanted in a June 6, 2003 press release stating that Amendment No. 2 to the APA "appears to support SCO's claim that ownership of certain copyrights for UNIX did transfer to SCO in 1996."
c. Admits the allegatons of ¶ 43(c), including the fact that Mr. LaSala's August 4, 2003 letter to SO purported to recant the recantation in Novell's June 6, 2003 press release. |
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. |
Admits that in September and October 2003, Novell (wrongfully) obtained copyright registrations for UNIX-related products; denies each and every other allegation and the characterizations in ¶ 44; and to the extent ¶ 44 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
45 |
I. SCO's Scheme To Extract Licensing Fees from Novell, the Linux
Community and UNIX Vendors 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. |
I. The SCOsource Initiative
Denies the allegations of ¶ 45; and to the extent ¶ 45 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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." |
Admits that SCO announced its SCOsource initiative on January 22, 2003, and that in connection with that announcement, Darl McBride made the statement quoted in part in ¶ 46; but denies each and every other allegation and the characterizations in ¶ 46. |
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...." |
Admits that the SCOsource licensing program allows Linux end-users to enter into intellectual property agreements that properly compensate SCO for its UNIX intellectual property found in Linux; admits that the terms of the SCOsource agreements are as stated therein; but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 47. |
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. |
Admits that SCO charges market price (including appropriate discounts) for its intellectual property licenses; but denies each and every other allegation and the characterization in ¶ 48. |
49 |
As part of its SCOsource initiative, SCO filed a lawsuit against IBM
on March 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. |
Admits that on March 7, 2003, SCO filed a lawsuit against IBM based on the allegations set forth in SCO's pleadings in that lawsuit; denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 49; and to the extent ¶ 49 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Admits that SCO, through its SCOsource division, entered into agreements related to UNIX and UnixWare with Sun Microsystems, Inc., and Microsoft Corporation (in that order) and that the Microsoft agreement covered UNIX compatibility products; but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 50, including the allegation that the Sun and Microsoft agreements were part of the SCOsource licensing program. |
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. |
Admits that the Sun and Microsoft agreements in part produced the profitable quarter; admits the allegations of the second sentence of ¶ 51; but denies each and every other allegations and the characterizations in ¶ 51. |
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. |
Admits that, in May 2003, SCO sent 1,500 end-user corporations (including IBM and Novell) a letter setting forth the statements therein; denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 52; and to the extent ¶ 52 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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')." |
Admits that SCO made statements (correctly quoted in part in ¶ 53) in the May 2003 letters; denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 53; and to the extent ¶ 53 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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." |
Admits that SCO made statements (correctly quoted in part in ¶ 54) in the May 2003 letters; denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 54; and to the extent ¶ 54 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Admits that SCO made statements (correctly quoted in part in ¶ 55) in its May 2003 letters to end-users; denies each and every other allegation and the characterizations in ¶ 55; and to the extent ¶ 55 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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
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). |
Admits that SCO has publicly stated that it owns the UNIX copyrights and that Linux end-users may be liable for infringement of those copyrights; admits that it has stated on its website that "only SCO is in a position to license the use of this infringing intellectual property"; admits that the Court's February 8, 2005 Order in the SCO v. IBM case sets forth the statements therein; denies each and every other allegation and the characterizations in ¶ 56; and to the extent ¶ 56 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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 its 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. |
Admits that SCO has filed lawsuits against Autozone, Inc., and Daimler Chrysler Corporation, based on the allegations set forth in its pleadings in those lawsuits; but denies each and every other allegation and the characterizations in ¶ 57. |
58 |
Novell has established a Linux Indemnification Program under which it
offers indemnification for copyright infringement 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. |
Admits that Novell has established an indemnification program with numerous restrictions (including, for example, the requirement that the Linux customer buy a new upgrade) and limitations (including, for example, on the dollar amount of the indemnification); but denies information or knowledge sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the other allegations of ¶ 58. |
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. |
Admits that, in an effort to protect its UNIX copyrights, SCO has negotiated and continues to negotiate intellectual property agreements with Linux end-users; admits that such agreements generated revenue in fiscal year 2004; and denies each and every other allegation and the characterizations in ¶ 59. |
60 |
J. SCO's Breaches of the Asset Purchase Agreement
SCO's misguided campaign has led SCO to breach various obligations that
Santa Cruz assumed under the APA and its Amendments. |
J. Novell's Allegations that SCO Breached the Asset Purchase Agreement
Denies the allegations of ¶ 60; and to the extent ¶ 60 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
61 |
Novell has performed its obligations under the APA and its
Amendments. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 61; and to the extent ¶ 61 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no resonse is required. |
62 |
SCO or Santa Cruz has received adequate consideration for its duties
under the APA and its Amendments. |
Denies the allegations of ¶62; and to the extent ¶ 62 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
63 |
Breach of Section 1.2(b)'s and 1.2(f)'s Audit Provisions
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. |
Admits that Section 1.2(b) of the APA provides in part: Seller shall be entitled to conduct periodic audits of Buyer concerning all royalties and payment due to Seller hereunder or under the SVRX Licenses, provided that Seller shall conduct such audits after reasonable notice to Buyer and during normal business hours and shall not be entitled to more than two (2) such audits per year. SCO denies each and every other allegation and the characterization in ¶ 63, including that under the APA, Novell had audit rights other than with respect to the administration of the SVRX binary royalty stream; and to the extent ¶ 63 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
64 |
Further, section 1.2(f) of the APA obligates SCO to provide Novell
monthly reports detailing the SVRX royalties that SCO received. |
Admits that Section 1.2(f) of the APA provides in part:
Within one (1) calendar month following each calendar month in which SVRX Royalties [and royalties from Royalty-Bearing Products as contemplated in Schedule 1.2(b) hereof] are received by Buyer, Buyer shall provide to Seller, in electronic file format, a report detailing all such royalties. SCO denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 64. |
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. |
Admits the allegation of ¶ 65. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of ¶ 66. |
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 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.
|
Admits that Novell sent SCO a November 21, 2003 letter (correctly quoted in part in ¶ 67) requesting the information set forth therin; denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 67 (including subparagraphs a-d); and to the extent ¶ 67 (including subparagraphs a-d) purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
68 |
Novell renewed its November 21, 2003 demand on December 29, 2003 and
again on February 4, 2004. |
Admits that Novell sent letters to SCO on December 29, 2003, and on February 4, 2004, referencing Novell's November 21, 2003 letter. |
69 |
On February 5, 2004, SCO conveyed its refusal to provide the information
identified in Paragraph 68. |
Admits that SCO responded to Novell's letters as set forth in SCO's letter dated February 5, 2004; but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 69. |
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 Intellectual
Property Licenses for Linux appeared to be SVRX Licenses since they purported
to grant rights relating to UNIX System V or UnixWare. |
Admits that Novell sent SCO a March 1, 2004 letter (correctly quoted in part in ¶ 70), requesting the information set forth therein; denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 70; and to the extent ¶ 70 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
71 |
Novell again sent a letter to SCO on April 2, 2004 urging a response. |
Admits that Novell sent a letter to SCO on April 2, 2004, requesting the information set forth therein. |
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.
|
Admits that Novell sent SCO a November 17, 2004 letter (correctly quoted in part in ¶ 72) requesting the information set forth therein. |
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. |
Admits that SCO responded to Novell as set forth in SCO's letters; but denies each and every other allegation and the characterizations in ¶ 73; and to the extent ¶ 73 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
74 |
Breach of Obligation To Remit Royalties Under Sections
1.2(b) and 4.16(a) 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. Under
the APA, Novell has "all right, title and interest to the SVRX Royalties, less
the 5% fee for administering the collection thereof." |
Admits that SCO was obligated to remit "all royalties, fees and other amounts due under all SVRX Licenses (as listed in detail under item VI of Schedule 1.1(a) hereof and referred to herein as 'SVRX Royalties"); admits that the term "SVRX Licenses" is not listed in a "Definitions" or "Recitals" section of the APA. SCO denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 74, including any attempt by Novell to define the term "SVRX Licenses" to include anything other than royalties that SCO collected from then-existing SVRX licensees for their distribution of binary-code versions of System V products pursuant to sublicensing agreements. |
75 |
SCO has failed to remit to Novell all royalties owed under §§
1.2(b) and 4.16(a) of the APA. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 75; and to the extent ¶ 75 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
76 |
As SCO admitted in its February 5, 2004 letter to Novell, SCO has
entered into "new" agreements with Sun and Microsoft. |
Admits that SCO entered into agreements with Sun and Microsoft, but denies each and every other allegation and the characteriations in ¶ 76. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 77; and to the extent ¶ 77 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
78 |
SCO has not remitted any royalties from its new SVRX Licenses with
Sun or Microsoft. |
Admits that SCO has not remitted royalties from its licenses with Sun and Microsoft; denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 78, including the allegation that SCO entered into "SVRX Licenses" with Sun or Microsoft; and to the extent ¶ 78 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Admits that SCO has entered into intellectual property agreements, the terms of which are set forth therein; but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 79. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 80; and to the extent ¶ 80 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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)." |
Admits that Amendment No. 1 to the APA added Section 1.2(e) (correctly quoted in part in ¶ 81); but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 81; and to the extent ¶ 81 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of the first sentence of ¶ 82; but denies the second sentence of ¶ 82 to the extent it alleges that the intellectual property licenses and Sun and Microsoft agreements required Novell's prior approval or were "SVRX Licenses"; and to the extent ¶ 82 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
83 |
Breach of Section 4.16(b)'s Obligations
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]. |
Admits that Novell correctly quotes in part Section 4.16(b) of the APA, but denies that this is the only pertinent part of that section. |
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"). |
Admits that SCO sent letters to various companies, including IBM and Sequent, settling forth the statements therein; but denies each and every other allegation in ¶ 84, including the allegation that the licenses referenced in those agreements were "SVRX Licenses." |
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. |
Admits that SCO terminated its software license agreements with IBM and Sequent; admits that it sent Sequent an August 11, 2003 letter of termination; but denies each and every other allegation in ¶ 85, including especially the allegation that the terminated licenses were "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. |
Admits that SCO did not seek Novell's prior written consent to terminate the IBM and Sequent licenses; admits that Novell sent letters to SCO on June 9, 2003 and October 7, 2003, setting forth the statements therein; but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 86, including especially the allegation that the terminated licenses were "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. |
Admits that Novell correctly quotes in part Section 4.1(b) of the APA, but denies that this is the only pertinent part of that section; denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 87; and to the extent ¶ 87 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 88; and to the extent ¶ 88 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
89 |
SCO refuses to acknowledge Novell's right to take such actions on
its own behalf. |
Admits that SCO refuses to acknowledge Novell's purported right to take certain actions on "its own behalf"; denies the allegation that Novell has that right; and to the extent ¶ 89 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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.
|
Admits that Section 4.16(b) of the APA (correctly quoted in part in ¶ 90) sets forth the terms therein; but denies each and every allegation of ¶ 90, including any attempt by Novell to define the term "SVRX Licenses" to include anything other than royalties that SCO collected from then-existing SVRX licenses for their distribution of binary-code versions of System V products pursuant to sublicensing agreements. |
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. |
Admits that SCO entered into agreements with Linux end-users, Sun, Microsoft, and others; but denies each and every other allegation in ¶ 91, including the allegation that those agreements are "SVRX Licenses". |
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. |
Admits that SCO never sought approval from Novell to enter into the intellectual property licenses or Sun and Microsoft agreements; denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 92; and to the extent ¶ 92 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 93; and to the extent ¶ 93 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Slander of Title) |
94 |
Novell incorporates by reference all prior paragraphs as if they were
set forth here in full.
|
Repeats and re-alleges its answers to the allegations of ¶ ¶ 1-93 as if fully set forth herein. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 95; and to the extent ¶ 95 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
96 |
SCO made such statements maliciously, in bad faith, and with
intentional disregard for the truth. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 96; and to the extent ¶ 96 purports to state a legal conclusoin, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 97; and to the extent ¶ 97 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 98; and to the extent ¶ 98 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Breach of Contract) |
99 |
Novell incorporates by reference all prior paragraphs as if they were
set forth here in full. |
Repeats and re-alleges its answers to all prior paragraphs as if those answers were fully set forth herein. |
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 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.
|
Admits that Novell sent SCO a November 21, 2003 letter requesting the information set forth therein, but denies each and every other allegation in ¶ 100 (including subparagraphs a-d). |
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.. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 101; and to the extent ¶ 101 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 102; and to the extent ¶ 102 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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). |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 103; and to the extent ¶ 103 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required; and states that Novell is not entitled to the relief it seeks in ¶ 103. |
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. |
Repeats and re-alleges its answers to all prior paragraphs as if those answers were fully set forth herein. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 105; and to the extent ¶ 105 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 106; and to the extent ¶ 106 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 107; to the extent ¶ 107 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required; and states that Novell is not entitled to the relief it seeks in ¶107. |
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 forth above, Novell owns "all right, title and interest" to
these royalties, less SCO's 5% administrative fee. |
Denies the allegations of ¶ 108; to the extent ¶ 108 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required; and states that Novell is not entitled to the relief it seeks in ¶108. |
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.. |
Admits that SCO completed the fiscal year ending in October 2005 with approximately $13.3 million in cash designated for its business operations in fiscal year 2006; denies each and every other allegation in ¶109; to the extent ¶109 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required; and states that Novell is not entitled to the relief it seeks in ¶109. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶110; to the extent ¶110 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required; and states that Novell is not entitled to the relief it seeks in ¶110. |
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. |
Repeats and re-alleges its answers to all prior paragraphs as if those answers were fully set forth herein. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶112; and to the extent ¶112 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
113 |
Novell seeks a declaration pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 that:
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.
|
Denies the allegations of ¶113; to the extent ¶113 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required; and states that Novell is not entitled to the relief it seeks in ¶113. |
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.
. |
Denies the allegations of ¶114; and to the extent ¶114 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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
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.
|
Denies the allegations of ¶115; to the extent ¶115 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required; and states that Novell is not entitled to the relief it seeks in ¶115. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶116; to the extent ¶116 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required; and states that Novell is not entitled to the relief it seeks in ¶116. |
FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Declaratory Relief: Rights and Obligations Under the 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. |
Repeats and re-alleges its answers to all prior paragraphs as if those answers were fully set forth herein. |
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 |
Admits the allegations of ¶118. |
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.. |
Denies the allegations of ¶119; and to the extent ¶119 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Admits that, under the APA, SCO was obligated to administer the intended binary royalty stream described in ¶15, above; denies each and every other allegation of ¶120; and to the extent ¶120 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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.. |
Denies the allegations of ¶121; and to the exttent v121 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
122 |
Novell seeks a declaration pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 that SCO
is obligated under the APA to:
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. . |
Denies the allegations of ¶122; to the extent ¶122 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required; and states that Novell is not entitled to the relief it seeks in ¶122. |
SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Restitution/Unjust Enrichment) |
123 |
Novell incorporates by reference all prior paragraphs as if they were
set forth here in full. |
Repeats and re-alleges its answers to all prior paragraphs as if those answers were fully set forth herein. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶124; and to the extent ¶124 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶125; and to the extent ¶125 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
126 |
Novell seeks restitution of all monies constituting SCO's unjust
enrichment. |
To the extent ¶126 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required; and states that Novell is not entitled to the relief it seeks in ¶126. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶127; to the extent ¶127 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required; and states that Novell is not entitled to the relief it seeks in ¶127. |
SEVENTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Accounting) |
128 |
Novell incorporates by reference all prior paragraphs as if they were
set forth here in full. |
Repeats and re-alleges its answers to all prior paragraphs as if those answers were fully seet forth herein. |
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. |
Admits that, under Section 4.16 of the APA, SCO agreed to collect and pass through to Novell 100% of the royalties paid by then-existing SVRX licensees for their distribution of binary-code versions of System V products pursuant to sublicensing agreements; admits that, under Section 4.16, Novell agreed to pay SCO 5% of such binary royalties as an administrative fee; admits that SCO was responsible for making additional payments to Novell for products unrelated to the SVRX licenses and this litigation; denies each and every other allegation of ¶129; and to the extent ¶129 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of ¶130 to the extent the terms "SVRX royalties" or "SVRX licenses" refer only to the intended binary royalty stream described in ¶15 and ¶129, above; and to the extent ¶130 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of the first sentence of ¶131 to the extent they refer to the intended binary royalty stream described in ¶15 and ¶129, above, and to payments for products unrelated to the SVRX licenses and this litigation; denies each and every other allegation of ¶131; and to the extent ¶131 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
132 |
SCO has failed to fulfill its duties under the audit provisions of the
APA, and substantially and materially breached those provisions. |
Denies the allegations of ¶132; and to the extent ¶132 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of ¶133 only to the extent the phrase "royalty payments to SCO under the SVRX Licenses" is limited to the binary royalties described in ¶¶15 and 129, above. |
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. |
Admits the allegations of ¶134 only to the extent the phrase "royalty payments under the SVRX licenses" refers only to the binary royalty stream described in ¶¶15 and 129, above. |
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. |
Admits that SCO did not seek Novell's approval before entering into the intellectual property agreements or Sun and Microsoft agreements; admits that SCO did not report those agreements to Novell because they are not "SVRX Licenses" as intended under the APA; denies each and every other allegation and the characterizations in ¶135; and to the extent ¶135 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶136; and to the extent ¶136 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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. |
Denies the allegations of ¶137; and to the extent ¶137 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
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 formulas by
which these royalty payments are calculated, and the fact that SCO receives
directly all these royalty payments without immediate notice to Novell, it is impracticable for Novell to name a fixed sum that is owing with respect
to these royalty payments without an accounting. |
Admits that the binary royalty payments due to Novell under the APA are calculated by formula and that SCO directly receives those payments; denies each and every other allegation and the characterizations in Denies the allegations of ¶138; and to the extent ¶138 purports to state a legal conclusion, states that no response is required. |
139 |
Novell therefore seeks an accounting for monies owed to Novell under
the APA. |
Denies the allegation that SCO owes Novell monies under the APA, and states that Novell is not entitled to an accounting. |
V. 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; |
States that the enumerated ¶¶140-55 of Novell's Prayer for Relief include requests for relief as to which no response is required. To the extent a response is required, SCO denies that Novell is entitled to the requested or any relief. | - |
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); |
- |
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 |
- |
- |
- |
GENERAL DENIAL SCO denies each and every allegation in Novell's Counterclaims that is not specifically admitted herein. |
- |
- |
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES
SCO hereby asserts the following separate defenses to the purported causes of action in Novell's Counterclaims, without assuming any burden of proof that rests with Novell with respect to such defenses. |
- |
- |
First Defense - Novell's slander-of-title counterclaim is barred by the absolute and conditional privileges enjoyed by SCO. |
- |
- |
Second Defense - Novell's slander-of-title counterclaim is barred by the First Amendment to the United States Constition. |
- |
- |
Third Defense - Novell's counterclaims are barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrine of waiver. |
- |
- |
Fourth Defense - Novell's counterclaims are barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrines of laches and delay. |
- |
- |
Fifth Defense - Novell's counterclaims are barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrine of estoppel. |
- |
- |
Sixth Defense - Novell's counterclaims are barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrine of unclean hands. |
- |
- |
Seventh Defense - Novell's counterclaims are barred, in whole or in part, by the applicable statute of limitations. |
- |
- |
Eighth Defense - Novell has failed to mitigate its alleged damages, and accordingly, any damages awarded to Novell should be reduced to the extent of its failure to mitigate. |
- |
- |
Ninth Defense - Novell's counterclaims are barred, in whole or in part, by lack of causation. To the extent that Novell alleges (contrary to fact) that it has suffered damages, such damagees were not proximately caused by any act or omission of SCO, or were not reasonably foreseeabale, or both. |
- |
- |
Tenth Defense - Novell's Answer and Counterclaims fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. |
- |
- |
WHEREFORE, plaintiff and counterclaim-defendant SCO demands judgment dismissing Novell's counterclaims with prejudice, along with such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper. |
|
|
Authored by: Sawdust Bytes on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 01:57 PM EDT |
Corrections [ Reply to This | # ]
|
- Corrections - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:08 PM EDT
- Corrections - Authored by: PJ on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 05:44 PM EDT
- numberous --> numerous - Authored by: hardmath on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:12 PM EDT
- Language in re: copyright - Authored by: DMF on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:13 PM EDT
- Corrections - Authored by: tiger99 on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:24 PM EDT
- Corrections - Authored by: red floyd on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:25 PM EDT
- Corrections - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:54 PM EDT
- sentendce > sentence - Authored by: Waterman on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:37 PM EDT
- Corrections - Authored by: Steve Allen on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:41 PM EDT
- Corrections - Authored by: devnull13 on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:48 PM EDT
- Corrections - Authored by: Arker on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 07:23 PM EDT
- Ack - Authored by: Arker on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 12:41 AM EDT
- Corrections - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 04:31 PM EDT
- Corrections - Authored by: PJ on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 05:59 PM EDT
- paragraph 140 is unhappy - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 05:20 PM EDT
- on Marcch 7 --> on March 7 - Authored by: hardmath on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 05:23 PM EDT
- sixth affirmative defense missing - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 05:26 PM EDT
- Corrections P32 - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 05:34 PM EDT
- Constition -> [Constitution]...n/t - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 08:18 PM EDT
- Paragraph 35: s/our/or/ - Authored by: rjamestaylor on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 08:39 PM EDT
- Corrections - 138 - Authored by: rdc3 on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 07:55 AM EDT
- Corrections -- Affirmative Defenses, Second Defense... - Authored by: Malor on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 06:56 PM EDT
- Corrections -- Affirmative Defenses, Ninth Defense... - Authored by: Malor on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 06:58 PM EDT
- item 43, SCO column - Authored by: jesse on Monday, May 22 2006 @ 10:34 AM EDT
- Nested Headings - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 27 2006 @ 02:32 AM EDT
|
Authored by: Sawdust Bytes on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 01:58 PM EDT |
Please, make links clickable. [ Reply to This | # ]
|
- Canada imports American patent troll - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:04 PM EDT
- EFF challenges Test-Taking patent - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:18 PM EDT
- Why Britain should not allow software patents - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:26 PM EDT
- What might Para. 1 of SCOG's Mean? - Authored by: Peter H. Salus on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:26 PM EDT
- Humor - Browser compatibility problem - Authored by: Jude on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 05:56 PM EDT
- Voles? - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 07:43 PM EDT
- Does anyone know how... - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 08:22 PM EDT
- Heartland Institute AdTI - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 11:06 PM EDT
- Gonzales and Freedom of Speech - Authored by: MadScientist on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 12:30 PM EDT
- Grommet would have stopped him.. - Authored by: LaurenceTux on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 03:00 PM EDT
- ICM Registry sues US Department of Commerce over .xxx TLD - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 04:09 PM EDT
- The Return of Them - Authored by: Dan M on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 04:17 PM EDT
- The other Anti-GPL lawsuit lost by ... guess who? - Authored by: furkoolitter on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 05:08 PM EDT
- Casey to replace Glassman at SEC - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 07:39 PM EDT
- Off Topic - Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 22 2006 @ 11:08 AM EDT
|
Authored by: Steve Martin on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 02:35 PM EDT |
But to this day, the US Copyright Office still lists Unix
System Laboratories as the Claimant and American Telephone & Telegraph
Company as the Author of the copyright for TXu-510-028, for UNIX, 5th edition,
"Computer program; with programmer's manual by K. Thompson, D. M.
Ritchie."
PJ, it occurs to me that perhaps you have
found why TSG was so hot to register the USL trademark; it would have allowed
them to claim ownership of this copyright registration. (Yes, I know it likely
wouldn't have worked as a retroactive registration, but we're talking TSG
here...)
--- "When I say something, I put my name next to it." --
Isaac Jaffee, "Sports Night" [ Reply to This | # ]
|
|
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 02:41 PM EDT |
There goes Novell's right to intervene with or waive things subject IBM's
Sequent License.
But maybe that is not what you wanted to imply.
I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something not too bizarre not to imply
that.
Let's make this a group effort.
That way nobody could say that in the very end you became an analist. You know
... [ Reply to This | # ]
|
- Great find, PJ - Authored by: Kilz on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 02:56 PM EDT
- Great find, PJ - Authored by: John Hasler on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 02:59 PM EDT
- Great find, PJ - Authored by: Waterman on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:50 PM EDT
- Great find, PJ - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 06:36 PM EDT
- Not a clue - Authored by: IMANAL on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 02:28 PM EDT
- Not a clue - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 24 2006 @ 04:20 AM EDT
- I hope you meant ¨analyst¨ - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 06:11 PM EDT
- Great find, PJ - Authored by: PJ on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 06:48 PM EDT
- Great find, PJ - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 06:52 PM EDT
- Great find, PJ - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 08:35 AM EDT
- It's the same as suing everyone in the world. - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 07:59 PM EDT
- Great find, PJ - Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 22 2006 @ 01:34 PM EDT
|
Authored by: vruz on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 02:55 PM EDT |
dictionary reads:
to admit
* To grant to be real, valid, or true;
acknowledge: admit the truth. See synonyms at acknowledge.
* To grant as
true or valid, as for the sake of argument; concede.
SCOX admits Linus
"purportedly" developed Linux.
SCOX admits other parties may have
contributed ilegally to Linux development.
New acceptions of the verb
to admit, courtesy SCOX.
Since when a party admits something
that wasn't stated first ?
Since when admissions are actually allegations
?
It's not the first time they do this.
I would be laughing if this
weren't so indignant.
--- --- the vruz [ Reply to This | # ]
|
|
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:21 PM EDT |
As I have mentioned before on Groklaw...
Santa Cruz Operation did not get it all because they didn't need it all. About
the time of the transfer Citrix was going great guns in the Wintel world for
remote access. Unix did not have the same. Someone needed to step up to the
plate and do this. Santa Cruz Operation, a UNIX player already, saw itself in a
world of UNIX giants all around (IBM, SUN, etc) that sold UNIX with the
hardware. MS in the Intel space was flying, and so the big oppurtunity in the
UNIX space was to built a Citrix-like remote access solution for UNIX server...
BUT, in order to make a big spash, Santa Cruz Operation needed to get closer to
the "derived from" tree of UNIX so to cover their butts when loading
their remote access product dream onto other's UNIX OS (where they did not have
to go begging to IBM or SUN for permission to do so). They went to Novell for
this upgrade of their position. They knew they did not get all of UNIX at the
time, but what they got made them happy enough so that the UNIX remote access
solution., that they called Tarantella, was born in their SEC filings as soon as
the ink was dry on the APA and Ammended APA with Novell. I don't think they
needed the ammended APA to get more UNIX rights! So - why did they need the
ammended APA and why did they settle for the "come back if you need more IP
and we will talk then arrangement"? Well, they only needed the ability to
show that they had an agreement to get more IP if they needed it should IBM or
SUN rain on their Tarantella running on IBM or SUN Unix iron (without having IBM
or SUN permission, that they would have to pay for) first!
They got what they wanted in the APA from NOVELL and the ammendment process too!
It was what they needed to run with Tarantella freely on UNIX's other than
their own. That is why they did not walk away from the Novell deal when they
were only getting a small collectors fee percentage of licenses and no
copyrights... If it were not for Tarantella they would have walked away from a
deal where they got pretty much nothing (oh they got a list of UNIX customers to
hound out of the deal but had to still pay Novell most of the money).
Look at the SEC filings for Santa Cruz Operation and follow when Tarantella was
announced. Tarantella was hush hush before the Novell deal because they didn't
want IBM or SUN to get the same idea they had and beat them to the punch.
Ask SUN why they now own Tarantella... for SUN it was a good buy, as with it
they got the ability that Santa Cruz Operation arranged with Microsoft to run
Tarantella Clients on Windows desktops.
Tarantella for Santa Cruz Operation, was the product that they planned to get
them the same kind of boost that Citrix was having both on Wall Street and on
respect street.
Caldera/newSCOx bought the crumbs from Santa Cruz Operation because they wanted
the list of UNIX customers to sell LINUX to (they thought that buying the list
would give them instant respect and a foot in the door to places that they could
only dream of getting into)! Then came Darl, I think that if Darl had not
arrived that Caldera would be a player in LINUX still today. Darl and Greed and
his pay/bonus arrangement with Yarrow was what caused Darl to try a short cut
that he knew nothing about (the blind bet, all in, for all the marbles... with
NO ACES. no Pairs, no flush, only low cards, and off suit to boot)!
[ Reply to This | # ]
|
- Most of this is simply not true - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 04:52 PM EDT
- Plausible... - Authored by: iceworm on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 07:20 PM EDT
- Plausible... - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 08:36 PM EDT
- provide urls others can check please - Authored by: PJ on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 08:27 PM EDT
- provide urls others can check please - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 08:57 PM EDT
- Irony- Novell deal 1996 - Tarantella Project born 1996! With Links - & can anyone chart this? - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 10:53 PM EDT
- Irony- Novell deal 1996 - Tarantella Project born 1996! With Links - & can anyone chart this? - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 11:03 PM EDT
- YaBUT... Microsoft was the ONLY desktop that really matters in most corporations (then and now)! - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 11:37 PM EDT
- YaBUT... - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 11:51 PM EDT
- Socratic Method - If "They didn't need any of that", then why do such a crappy deal? - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 12:33 AM EDT
- Socratic Method - If "They didn't need any of that", then why do such a crappy deal? - Authored by: Arker on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 12:54 AM EDT
- Occam's Razor: "It seemed like a good idea at the time" - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 01:43 AM EDT
- Tarantella, the product - Authored by: Brian S. on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 04:22 AM EDT
- Re: "(b) they thought that they had them anyway". = WRONG! =WRONG! = so very Wrong! - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 08:41 AM EDT
- 2006 above - 1996 10-k showed Proprietary Rights knowledge about importance of copyrights to SCO - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 11:52 AM EDT
- I beg to differ .... - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 05:23 PM EDT
- Point taken, but SEC filings that the CEO read and signed, said they understood copyright & IP. - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 05:53 PM EDT
- Point taken, but SEC filings that the CEO read and signed, said they understood copyright & IP. - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 06:50 PM EDT
- "Interview: Doug Michels on the challenges facing Tarantella" August 17, 2001 - Authored by: Brian S. on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 07:28 PM EDT
- "Interview: Ransom Love on open source and unified Unix" - August 17, 2001 - Authored by: Brian S. on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 07:40 PM EDT
- "When SCO went bad (a memoir)" - Authored by: Brian S. on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 08:00 PM EDT
- One has to wonder if without copyrights, if the deal would have fallen through? - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 11:25 PM EDT
- Point taken, but SEC filings that the CEO read and signed, said they understood copyright & IP. - Authored by: PJ on Monday, May 22 2006 @ 04:53 AM EDT
- Occam's Razor: "It seemed like a good idea at the time" - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 09:07 AM EDT
- Occam's Razor: "It seemed like a good idea at the time" - Authored by: PJ on Monday, May 22 2006 @ 02:42 AM EDT
- Sun's Settlement with Microsoft - Authored by: rsteinmetz70112 on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 09:21 PM EDT
- Do you mean 1996 or 2006 ? - Authored by: Ed Freesmeyer on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 09:51 AM EDT
- Re-2 bad links above -explained & corrected (maybe)!! Just gotta file out 2 fields for 10-K(s) - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 11:16 PM EDT
- Another Great Find, PJ - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 12:00 PM EDT
- Unix had nothing like Citrix?! - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 01:25 AM EDT
- What about X, VNC and more recently, NX? - Authored by: tiger99 on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 09:26 AM EDT
- Santa Cruz Operation only needed some UNIX rights to make Tarantella! - Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, June 03 2006 @ 12:43 PM EDT
|
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 03:43 PM EDT |
After claiming for three years they are the successor in interest to all things
UNIX, via Novell, here they appear to be denying it.
[ Reply to This | # ]
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|
Authored by: kberrien on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 04:16 PM EDT |
Lets take SCO's litigation strategy at its face, to protect their IP rights, and
not some other goal such as a settlement/buyout.
Would it not be prudent to study in depth the history, transfers, etc of the
Unix family jewels. Over and over again, new wrinkles appear, the ownership is
more and more fuzy.
Given if SCO had wanted to research all this, would it have been possible to do?
Is it likely that nicely knocking on AT&T and Novell's doors and asking
questions would have gotten them anywhere? Or is it that fine details as these
only become apparent under the scruteny that litigation requires....[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: mikeprotts on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 04:43 PM EDT |
Novell:
D. Novell's Ownership of the UNIX Copyrights
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."
newSCO:
D. Novell's Alleged Ownership of the UNIX Copyrights
Admits that the APA transferred to Santa Cruz all of Novell's right, title,
and interest in and to Novell's assets and properties relating to the
UNIX business; admits that certain limited assets were excluded from the
transfer,
but denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 21, including the allegation
that
the APA did not transfer to Santa Cruz the copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare.
The last part seems as though they are denying something that is the opposite of
the claim. I thought these were the exceptions that were included.
Cheers
Mike[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: rsmith on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 05:58 PM EDT |
They deny ever having asked Novell to transfer the copyrights.
Surely Novell will have those requests on file? So why lie about them?
I remember Novell mentioning this issue, but it's not in de PDF's on Novell's
letters page.
Even though in the complaint SCO asks the Judge to make Novell transfer the
copyrights, implying that they don't have them.
---
Intellectual Property is an oxymoron.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: IMANAL on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 06:12 PM EDT |
Novell, 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."
SCO, 34: "Admits that Caldera hired Darl
McBride as its President and Chief Executive Officer in June 2002 and that Mr.
McBride was responsible for Caldera's strategic direction, with input from other
executives of the company; but denies each and every other allegation of ¶
34.
What other allegations?! Did I or they miss
something?
--- --------------------------
IM Absolutely Not A Lawyer [ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: rharvey46 on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 06:25 PM EDT |
Is it possible that AT&T is going to end up being a big player in this?
If Novell did not get from AT&T as much as SCO thinks/pretends they got
from Novell, it would change the case significantly for SCO. SCO can not take
what Novell did not own to begin with. It appears that Novell only got the
AT&T Unix - not all Unixes - therefore SCO can not claim that AIX (or any
other Unix) violates their license to Unix.
If SCO were to win against IBM or Novell, they would have a very difficult time
winning against AT&T - and I am sure that AT&T runs both Unix and Linux.
Perhaps Novell (or IBM) should call for witnesses from AT&T? (They probably
have)
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 06:34 PM EDT |
I was once told to avoid putting the words "clearly" and
"obviously" in writing. If a statement is, in fact, clear, then to
add the word "clearly" is redundant. If a statement isn't clear, then
to add the word "clearly" is insulting.
Now, that was in the old days, when one was writing, say, a book, where the
reader has no reasonable way of engaging the author in a dialogue on the
subject. In this forum, one can put in a comment like "not only is that
point not clear, but it's just plain wrong", or whatever. There's a
conversation. Misunderstandings are resolved. Everyone learns something.
On the other hand (she wore a glove), all writing, even in a setting where
comment and correction are part of the natural process, has an impact not found
in spoken conversation. Also, when speaking, we can see the listeners'
reactions and make midstream corrections as necessary. It's just different.
I'm terribly sorry to be so long winded about such a little point. By bulking
up the comment I think I hoped to make it seem more like passing along something
my Dad once told me rather than like a rebuke from the grammar police.
Richard.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: energyman on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 07:29 PM EDT |
Specially this part:
Novell:
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.
Sco:
admits that SCO announced the SCOsource initiative
in January 2003 but did not enter into an agreement
under its licensing program until August 2003; and
denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 37.
----
so they did not did it, to make money!
This is sweet. So nice of them. They don't want to
make money. Good to know![ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 20 2006 @ 09:57 PM EDT |
What I find interesting is that in #8 Novell says
"Linus Torvalds, an undergraduate student at the University of Helsinki,
began writing the Linux kernel, or the core of the Linux operating system"
while SCO says
"Linus Torvalds purportedly developed the Linux operating system".
You'd think that, after all this time, SCO would know the difference between a
Kernel and an OS. If SCO did this on purpose, what reason would they have for
doing so?[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: jo_dan_zukiger on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 05:22 AM EDT |
Darl is trying to manufacture rights to something other than SVRx out of this. [ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 06:16 AM EDT |
Admits that the APA transferred to Santa Cruz "all of Seller's right, title
and interest in and to the assets and properties of Seller relating to the [UNIX
and UnixWare] Business,"
and then..
"that pursuant to this exception Novell retained the right to continue
receiving royalties that.."
"and that Novell retained the right to conduct audits.."
What happened to the ALL part?
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 08:28 AM EDT |
There's a word for what SCO are, only PJ won't let me say it here.
Nevertheless, SCO are *so* that word.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 10:29 AM EDT |
Novell:
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 divisions. With the acquisition, Caldera Systems planned
to add Santa Cruz's UNIX server solutions and services to its Linux business.
SCOX:
Admits the allegations of the first sentence of ¶ 29, but denies each and every
other allegation of ¶29.
So, if Caldera didn't plan to "add Santa Cruz's UNIX server solutions and
services to its Linux business", what exactly _did_ it plan to do with
them? Did they, in fact, plan to embark on a (now increasingly dubious looking)
crash course to megabucks by using what they claimed to have purchased as
leverage in a massive protection racket exercised against its own clients?
Simon[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 11:37 AM EDT |
SCO denies it sells SVRX licenses, so how is IBM's purported misuse of SVRX code
etc, hurting their business.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: MadScientist on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 12:09 PM EDT |
'SCO denies each and every other allegation of ¶ 74, including any attempt by
Novell to define the term "SVRX Licenses" to include anything other
than royalties that SCO collected from then-existing SVRX licensees for their
distribution of binary-code versions of System V products pursuant to
sublicensing agreements.'
This is a point that I noticed and one has yet to be hacked to death here.
This is at the heart of the SCO Source story.
From the way SCO portrays the story Santa Cruz bought the Unix copyrights and
the right to net 5% of the revenue from the existing users. Novell had no rights
to any future revenues derived from licencing of the SysV code. Santa Cruz also
had at its descresion the right to cancel or otherwise alter the existing
contracts even those that had executed a buy out.
This to my reading contrast with what the contract actually said.
Firstly Santa Cruz was supposed to try to expand the Unix business. If Novell
had no further financial interest in additional binary licences then why would
they do that?
Secondly Santa Cruz had no right to enter into new Unix licences without
Novell's say so. This was probably to make sure that Novell was actually getting
its share of the licence.
Thirdly Santa Cruz had no right to alter the existing licence terms: makes sense
to me - Novell wanted to preserve the revenue stream.
One effect of points 2 and 3 above were to prevent Snata Cruz cancelling all the
Unix contracts and then relicencing them fiven minutes later. Otherwise Santa
Cruz could trear up all the licences cutting off Novell revenue stream and
relicence them five minutes later at a lower cost - say 19% the original price.
Double the Santa Cruz income; reduce by a factor of 10 the cost to the end user.
Hence the need for these clauses.
SCO's argument here is 2 fold: firstly that the contract was too great a
restraint on trade and that the SCO source was not really a SysV code licence.
The first argument will be difficult. There is no lack of competion (now) for
OSes. Santa Cruz and then SCO both bought the contact with their eyes wide open.
If Unix was in a monopoly position vis-a-vi OSes then this argument might hold
water. They might be able to cook up something on this but I for one would not
bet on it.
Saying that the SCO source licences were not SysV licences might or might not be
true. To judge the veracity of this the judge will have to see the SCO source
licences himself as indeed will the Novell lawyers. To date SCO have declined to
do this.
There are a LOT of people who would love to see these licecnes. Judge K may well
not allow these to be sealed should they be presented in court.
My guess is that these will end up in court. Novell say these relate to Sys V:
SCO say they dont. This cannot be decided without seeing them. There is a lot of
money riding on these: 95% of 50-100 million. Given the precariousness of SCO's
current finances Judge K may decline to rule on these for some time but I dont
see him or the magistrate judge handling this part of the case not wanting to
see them.
Along with the copyright issue this IMHO is the only other really important part
of this case. [ Reply to This | # ]
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- No point - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 02:19 PM EDT
- Some points - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 06:06 PM EDT
- Some points - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 06:24 PM EDT
- Some points - Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 11:25 PM EDT
- Some points - Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 22 2006 @ 01:53 PM EDT
- Not assumptions - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 23 2006 @ 03:38 PM EDT
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Authored by: GLJason on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 02:29 PM EDT |
Although we know that SCO doesn't think the word perpetual means what is in the
dictionary, in the APA sectcion 1.6:
The license
agreement shall also provide Seller with an unlimited royalty-free,
perpetual, worldwide license to the Licensed Technology upon the occurrence of a
Change of Control of Buyer described in Section 6.3(c) hereof.
Would this just be for their own use, or for sublicensing,
as in SUSE? This statement (including 'ALSO') is in the section where Novell
retains limited rights to the technology, where they just can't compete with
buyer's core products. This sentence appears to mean that on change of control
of buyer, the license changes to an unlimited, royalty-free, perpetual, and
worldwide one without the previous restrictions...[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: GLJason on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 03:26 PM EDT |
That is the heart of the matter. If they bought UNIX and all rights thereto,
why were copyrights and patents specifically excluded in the APA? Even SCO
cannot seem to argue that patents transferred to Santa Cruz. They make a weak
argument for copyright transfer, but then why was the exclusion amended to say
this: "A. 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...."?
If you try to use SCO's interpretation of the APA, these
things don't make sense. Novell still retained broad rights to and financial
interest in existing licensees, plus control over future licensees. SCO cannot
disput this, or it would not have required Novell to sign Amentment X with IBM.
If copyrights were to have been transferred, it makes NO SENSE to mention them
in the 'excluded assets' and NOT in the "assets". SCO never attempts to explain
what copyrights weren't transferred, even though they are specifically excluded,
even after amendment 2. SCO seems to think all copyrights were transferred, but
there they are, still listed only in 'excluded assets'.
SCO is taking
the position that Novell retained any rights and financial interest only in
existing 'binary' SVRX licenses. Again, 'binary' isn't specifically mentioned
in the APA (except with regard to one individual license for some reason,
SOFT-000302 and SUB-000302A) and IBM's Amendment X that Santa Cruz needed Novell
to sign had to deal with the source license. In fact, in 1.2 (e), Novell seems
to also retain financial interest in source licenses: "(e) source code right to
use fees under existing SVRX Licenses from the licensing of additional CPU's and
from the distribution by Buyer of additional source code copies; "
So what
did Santa Cruz buy? Well, they bought the right to create and market a 'merged
product' that would work on Intel CPUs. (An 'Operating Agreement' is mentioned
that I would like to see...) Looking in this (Novell's) context, everything
seems to make sense. Copyrights are excluded, but Santa Cruz still must create
the merged product (a derivative work) and sell it (copy it and license it).
THOSE are the copyrights required by Santa Cruz to exercise its rights with
respect to the acquisition of UNIX and UnixWare technologies. Also, since Santa
Cruz would be administering the SVRX licenses on Novell's behalf, they would
have to make copies of those materials when requested by licensees. That's so
Novell couldn't come and say "You're distributing UnixWare 7, but we own the
copyrights. Pay us." Santa Cruz could point to this item and say "we have the
right to use that copyrighted code, it's the whole purpose of the agreement and
amendment 2 makes that clear.". [ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 21 2006 @ 04:55 PM EDT |
PJ explained before in her article "Ah. The joy of answering FUD." how
"SCO sued and gave notice that it was going to terminate the contract on
the same day, March 6, 2003, in violation, IBM pointed out, of the contract term
that required SCO to first give IBM 100 days to fix any alleged breach."
Since IBM acknowledges that under the terms of the contract SCO has a right to
terminate, albeit conditional , how can Novell argue that such is a purported
right?
Did Novell notwithstanding waive SCO's right to terminate?
Or did Novell waive the alleged breach ( the merit of ) which became subject to
the litigation between SCO and IBM?
And when the breach is waived, is that an amendment or modification of the IBM
SVRX License by Novell?
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 22 2006 @ 02:41 PM EDT |
I remember it being discussed before, but I don't remember where... In this
context of claims and response, what does the verb "deny" (and it's
derivatives) mean?
In common parlance, a claim would seem to have three responses.
1) Admit - i.e. I agree and we can establish the statement as an agreed upon
fact.
2) Deny - i.e. I disagree and have evidence which contradicts the allegation or
fact under discussion.
3) Unknown - i.e. I don't have enough information to form an opinion as to the
validity of the claim.
But (2) above cannot possibly be the definition that SCO is using. Case in
point - paragraph 20. As I parse it, this is what I understand SCO to be
saying. (Numbers are sentance numbers - Sco "admits" the first three
sentances and "denies" the remainder)
(1)[SCO Admits:]Novell and Santa Cruz were the only parties to the APA and its
Amendments.
(2)[SCO Admits:]SCO was not a party to the APA or its Amendments.
(3)[SCO Admits:]SCO was originally incorporated on August 21, 1998 as a company
called Caldera Systems, a developer and provider of Linux-based business
solutions.
(4)[SCO Denies:]SCO purports to be the successor in interest to Santa Cruz under
the APA and its Amendments.
(5)[SCO Denies:]This dispute is about Novell's rights under the APA and whether
SCO breached its obligations as the alleged successor of Santa Cruz.
Under the definitions above, SCO denies that it claims to be the successor in
interest to Santa Cruz under the APA and its Amendments. If they deny that they
are the successor in interest to Santa Cruz, then what are we even talking
about?
SCO apparently also knows what is in the mind of the claimant and denies that
the case is about what the claimant says the case is about -- seems weird that a
respondant would say that the case isn't about what the claimant says it is
about. At most that would be "unknown".
So exactly what does "deny" mean in this context? (And, is it's
definition related to the definition of "is"?)[ Reply to This | # ]
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