The intent of the GPL, as expressed in the unambiguous language of that
license, is that fees and restrictions not set out in that license are barred.
I hope Novell and Microsoft read this quotation from this IBM filing, its Redacted Memorandum in Opposition to SCO's Motion for Summary Judgment on IBM's Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Counterclaims [PDF]. Then just apply it, and we can all be friends. Joke, joke. I know Microsoft isn't looking for friendship. It's looking to kill the GPL. Why would anyone help them? Believe it or not, SCO is asking the court to kill IBM's copyright infringement counterclaims, the ones based on the GPL violations, on the grounds that SCO pretends it never violated the GPL.
Here is its position, as stated in the Memorandum in Support of its motion for summary judgment: I. SCO DID NOT BREACH THE GPL IBM’s Sixth and Seventh Counterclaims fail as a matter of law because SCO did not breach the GPL. First, where SCO has copied and re-distributed Linux, it has done so in compliance with the requirements of the GPL. Second, nothing in the GPL – which by its very terms is limited to “copying, distribution and modification” of Linux – precludes SCO from issuing licenses to its UNIX software. Breathtaking, is it not? Can't they read? There can't be proprietary source code mixed in with GPL code. Period. Their only remedy was to take it out pronto, if there ever was any such. They've certainly never identified any that we've seen. Or let it join the Free World of the GPL. There was no GPL option to leave proprietary code mixed in with GPL code and then charge for it. Of course, the option to remove would be only a courtesy, an optional one. Since SCO continued to distribute knowingly, as IBM points out, after it became aware of the alleged "infringement," it lost that argument long ago. SCO's fanciful reasoning includes the absurd proposition that the GPL is a per se antitrust violation. Yes. Again. Well, well, that's very much a match with the arguments of surrogate pro se litigant Daniel Wallace who was recently resoundingly defeated in his attempt to prove SCO's theory -- what a coincidence! -- and who, despite their best efforts, ended up instead helping IBM, who quotes liberally from the judgments against Wallace, who was quite literally mocked out of court. That's what you get for listening to folks who don't understand the GPL and maliciously wish to sidestep its clear purpose and intent. But of course, SCO must try again. I've put the text of SCO's filing below IBM's, so you can read them together. Folks, is it not obvious that this is all about trying to undermine or destroy the GPL? Microsoft hates it. GNU/Linux's corporate friends are a bit ambivalent, at least about GPLv3. And so GPLv3 will have to try to deal with all the attempts to water down or destroy the GPL, what I'd call the FOSS "corporate ethics policy," so to speak. Ethics is the differentiating factor and the added value of Free and Open Source software. Corporations have the practice of defining at the most senior executive level the company's "corporate values".
They publish a document defining their corporate values and ask or require their employees to read it and comply with it. FOSS has done the same thing from the very beginning, starting with the GNU Manifesto, then the Open Source Definition. There is the Debian Social Contract as well. These well-known texts are published and serve the essential purpose of defining what the community stands for.
Unlike corporate value statements, the ethical position of the community is enforced by a process, the licensing process. Licenses must comply with their ethical statements. Approved licenses are published to allow users to know at all time when a particular software complies.
Corporations have nothing similar to enforce their value statements. This underlines how important ethics is to FOSS that the community devised an enforcement process where corporations did not.
Circumventing the spirit of the GPL is circumventing that process. It is not a matter of being emotional about the license. It is a matter of being faithful to the very essence of FOSS and the ethics that everyone that chooses that license accepted as a value statement. And that's why the Novell-Microsoft patent agreement is getting a much larger and more intense reaction than the Sun-Microsoft agreement did. The former is attacking what makes Free Software free software. It's attacking community ethics.
Getting back to this particular defense of the GPL, IBM correctly points out that as a Linux company for some years, SCO can be presumed to understand how the license it itself used for years works. SCO actually claims that it had no notice that it was infringing IBM's copyrighted works, despite the clear notice in the GPL itself, until IBM filed its counterclaim. Even if that were true, how does it explain its continued distribution after IBM filed its counterclaim? We're talking years, not weeks or months. IBM tells the court that SCO continued to distribute at least until August of 2006. SCO admits to the violation, without seeming to realize it, by saying it was obligated by certain UnitedLinux contractual terms to make the code available for a time. Okie dokie. In short, you did continue to distribute despite having no license and hence you infringed IBM's copyrighted works. IBM says they also continued to sell Linux after they claimed to have stopped. What is it about the GPL that folks find it so hard to comprehend? Or is it just that they can't bear to comply? It can't just be that they don't want it to be the way it is, although you can see that very clearly I think in SCO's conduct and its explanations. But it seems deeper -- like the Bible story about the enemy armies blinded by God when they were viciously looking to arrest a prophet. He was standing right in front of them, but they couldn't discern it. Here it strikes me the same way. The terms of the GPL aren't that hard, and yet SCO presents arguments that reveal them to be either incredibly blind to what they are admitting to or ... or what? I confess, I'm stumped. But then, we now have the Novell blindness too, so what in the world is the explanation? I know. Money blinds people sometimes. But as you read this filing, I hope you will be noticing how similar the Novell-Microsoft deal is in effect to the SCOsource arrangement. Both SCO and Microsoft want the same thing -- to be paid for some unidentified "intellectual property" inside Linux that each claims is in there and that they'll sue end users over if they don't pay up. Do you see any difference, just because SCO tried to use copyrights and Microsoft patents? (If it is patents -- "intellectual property" doesn't actually mean anything in the law. There are no laws about "intellectual property", the laws are specifit to copyrights, patents and trademarks, etc. But there is no law about "intellectual property", so when someone tells you to pay up for "IP", tell them to be specific. Microsoft: please be specific.) I hope you will also notice as you read this all the reasons why many are disturbed about Tivo and view its conduct as contrary to the clear intent and purpose of the GPL. But you say, they are keeping to the literal, technical GPL requirements. Is that enough? And if you say yes, what do you think will happen next to the GPL, with entities like SCO and Microsoft in the game? And finally, ask yourself: if GPLv2 is so "perfect", how come folks do to it what SCO here tries to do and Microsoft and Novell are now trying to do too in yet another permutation of getting around the clear intent of the license? It's important not to be blind ourselves to what is going on -- and the bottom line with the GPL, as IBM so perfectly expresses it is simply this:
The intent of those who offer or accept licenses to software under the GPL is
clearly stated in its Preamble.... At its simplest level, the
GPL provides that anyone may copy, modify or distribute the work on a royalty-free basis,
provided they agree to distribute that work -- and to license any derivative works -- only under the
terms of the GPL.... As the Preamble to the GPL
states, in part:
[T]he GNU General Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to
share and change free software -- to make sure the software is free for all its users.
Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom
to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that
you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the
software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do
these things. To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that forbid
anyone to deny you these rights.... These restrictions translate to certain
responsibilities for you if you distribute copies of the software, or if you modify
it. For example, if you distribute copies of [a program licensed under the GPL] ...
you must give the recipients all the rights that you have. You must give the recipients ALL the rights you have. Is that not English? Is it not clear? There is no use telling me that you've decided it doesn't matter. Or you don't care. The license cares. That is a fundamental purpose of the GPL. And folks need to respect other people's "intellectual property", not just their own. Whatever the license says, that's what it means. SCO, IBM points out, would like to be a "super Linux licensee" -- able to enjoy the free code with all the rights that the GPL provides, while restricting and charging everyone else. That yearning is one that Microsoft appears to share. If you wondered what it would look like to bring arguments to a court regarding the GPL, you can pretty much use this as a template. Although this document is in response to SCO's motion for summary judgment, the arguments IBM raises are pretty much what you'd use anyhow if you wanted to sue someone for violating the GPL. ***********************
SNELL & WILMER L.L.P.
Alan L. Sullivan (3152)
Todd M. Shaughnessy (665 1)
Amy F. Sorenson (8947)
[Address]
[Phone]
[Fax]
CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE LLP
Evan R. Chesler (admitted pro hac vice)
Roger G. Brooks (admitted pro hac vice)
David R. Marriott (7572)
[Address]
Phone]
[Fax]
Attorneys for Defendant/Counterclaim-Plaintiff
International Business Machines Corporation
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
|
THE SCO GROUP, INC.
Plaintiff/Counterclaim-Defendant,
v.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
MACHINES CORPORATION,
Defendant/Counterclaim-Plaintiff.
|
IBM'S REDACTED MEMORANDUM IN
OPPOSITION TO SCO'S MOTION FOR
SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON IBM'S SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH
COUNTERCLAIMS
(ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED)
Civil No. 2:03CV-0294 DAK
Honorable Dale A. Kimball
Magistrate Judge Brooke C. Wells
|
SNELL & WILMER L.L.P.
Alan L. Sullivan (3152)
Todd M. Shaughnessy (665 1)
Amy F. Sorenson (8947)
[Address]
[Phone]
[Fax]
CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE LLP
Evan R. Chesler (admitted pro hac vice)
Roger G. Brooks (admitted pro hac vice)
David R. Marriott (7572)
[Address]
[Phone]
[Fax]
Attorneys for Defendant/Counterclaim-Plaintiff
International Business Machines Corporation
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
|
THE SCO GROUP, INC.
Plaintiff / Counterclaim-Defendant,
v.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
MACHINES CORPORATION,
Defendant / Counterclaim-Plaintiff.
|
IBM'S MEMORANDUM IN OPPOSITION TO SCO'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT ON IBM'S SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH COUNTERCLAIMS
(ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED)
FILED UNDER SEAL PURSUANT TO 9/16/03
PROTECTIVE ORDER, DOCKET 938
Civil No. 2:03CV-0294 DAK
Honorable Dale A. Kimball
Magistrate Judge Brooke C. Wells
|
Table of Contents
|
Page
|
Table Of Authorities
|
iii
|
Preliminary Statement
|
1
|
Material Facts Requiring Denial of SCO's Motion
|
2
|
|
A.
|
The GNU General Public License ('GPL')
|
2
|
|
B.
|
IBM's Offer of a License to Its Copyrighted Works Under the GPL
|
5
|
|
C.
|
SCO's Acceptance of, and Promise to Abide by, the Terms and
Conditions of the GPL Covering the IBM Copyrighted Works
|
5
|
|
D.
|
SCO's Repudiation and Blatant Violations of the GPL
|
7
|
|
E.
|
The Termination of SCO's Rights to the IBM Copyrighted Works and
Linux
|
8
|
Responses to SCO's Statement of "Undisputed" Facts
|
10
|
Standard of Decision
|
20
|
Argument
|
21
|
I.
|
SCO BREACHED THE GPL
|
21
|
|
A.
|
The Plain and Unambiguous Language of the GPL Forecloses SCO's
Interpretation
|
21
|
|
B.
|
SCO Repeatedly Repudiated and Breached the GPL
|
25
|
|
|
1
|
SCO repeatedly repudiated the GPL, and continues to do so on this
motion
|
25
|
|
|
2
|
SCO violated the GPL by placing license restrictions on Linux
licensees, including its own Linux customers, on terms prohibited by
the GPL
|
25
|
II.
|
SCO INFRINGED IBM'S COPYRIGHTS
|
27
|
|
A.
|
Because SCO Breached the GPL, its License to the IBM Copyrighted
Works Terminated
|
28
|
|
|
1
|
SCO's license to the IBM Copyrighted Works "automatically
terminated" upon its breach
|
28
|
|
|
2
|
SCO knew, or should have known, that its license to the IBM
Copyrighted Works had terminated and that it was infiinging
IBM's copyrights
|
29
|
|
B.
|
SCO Continued Copying and Distributing the IBM Copyrighted Works
without a License to do so
|
30
|
|
C.
|
SCO's Attacks on the Enforceability of the GPL are Without Merit
|
30
|
i
Table of Contents
(continued)
|
Page
|
III.
|
SCO's GPL VIOLATIONS HARMED, AND CONTINUE TO HARM, IBM
|
32
|
|
A.
|
SCO Financially Damaged IBM, and IBM is In Any Event Entitled to
Nominal Damages
|
32
|
|
B.
|
IBM is Entitled to Injunctive and Declaratory Relief
|
33
|
Conclusion
|
36
|
ii
Table of Authorities
|
Page(s)
|
Cases
|
|
Autoskill, Inc. v. Nat'l Educ. Support Sys., Inc.,
|
|
|
994 F.2d 1476 (10th Cir. 1993)
|
20, 35
|
Bair v. Axiom Design LLC,
|
|
|
20 P.3d 388 (Utah 2001)
|
32
|
Bourne v. Walt Disney Co.,
|
|
|
68 F.3d 621 (2d Cir. 1995)
|
27
|
Bowers v. Baystate Techs., Inc.
|
|
|
320 F.3d 1317 (Fed. Cir. 2003)
|
29
|
Carson v. Dynergy, Inc.,
|
|
|
344 F.3d 446 (5th Cir. 2003)
|
27
|
CBS Broad., Inc. v. EchoStar Comms. Corp,
|
|
|
450 F.3d 505 (11th Cir. 2006)
|
34
|
Celotex Corp. v. Catrett,
|
|
|
477 U.S. 317 (1986)
|
20
|
Cofield v. Ala. Public Service Comm'n,
|
|
|
936 F.2d 512 (11th Cir. 1991)
|
31
|
Concrete Machinery Co. v. Classic Lawn Ornaments, Inc.,
|
|
|
843 F.2d 600 (1 st Cir. 1988)
|
31, 34
|
Country Kids 'N City Slicks, Inc. v. Sheen,
|
|
|
77 F.3d 1280 (10th Cir. 1996)
|
34
|
Dow Chemical Co. v. United States,
|
|
|
226 F.3d 1334 (Fed. Cir. 2000)
|
25
|
Fairborn Commercial, Inc. v. Am. Housing Partners, Inc.,
|
|
|
94 P.3d 292 (Utah 2004)
|
21-22
|
Fitzgerald Publ'g Co., Inc. v. Baylor Publ'g Co.,
|
|
|
807 F. 2d 1110 (2d Cir. 1986)
|
29, 30
|
Ford v. United States,
|
|
|
273 U.S. 593 (1927)
|
22
|
Gates Rubber Co. v. Bando Chem. Indus. Ltd.,
|
|
|
9 F.3d 823 (10th Cir. 1993)
|
30
|
iii
Table of Authorities
(Continued)
|
Page(s)
|
Cases
|
|
In re Grandote Country Club Co.,
|
|
|
252 F.3d 1146 (10th Cir. 2001)
|
20
|
Intel Corp. v. VIA Techs., Inc.,
|
|
|
319 F.3d 1357 (Fed. Cir. 2003)
|
31
|
Intellectual Reserve, Inc. v. Utah Lighthouse Ministry, Inc.,
|
|
|
75 F. Supp. 2d 1290 (D. Utah 1999)
|
20
|
J.R. Simplot Co. v. Sales King Int'l, Inc.,
|
|
|
17 P.3d 1100 (Utah 2000)
|
21
|
Jacob Maxwell, Inc. v. Veeck,
|
|
|
110 F.3d 749 (11th Cir. 1997)
|
29
|
Kahn v. New York Times Co.,
|
|
|
503 N.Y.S.2d 561 (N.Y. App. Div. 1986)
|
24
|
Kaye v. Grossman,
|
|
|
202 F.3d 611 (2d Cir. 2000)
|
21
|
Kronos, Inc. v. AVX Corp.,
|
|
|
612 N.E.2d 289 (N.Y. 1993)
|
32
|
Liveware Publ'g Inc. v. Best Software Inc.,
|
|
|
Nos. 04-1788, 04-2028, 125 Fed. Appx. 428 (3d Cir. Mar. 8, 2005)
|
35
|
MCA Television Ltd v. Public Interest Corp.,
|
|
|
171 F.3d 1265 (11 th Cir. 1999)
|
29
|
Metro. Opera Assoc. v. Local 100, No. 00-3 613, 2005 WL
1712241 (S.D.N.Y.
|
|
|
July 19,2005)
|
33
|
N.A.S. Imp., Corp. v. Chenson Enters., Inc.,
|
|
|
968 F.2d 250 (2d Cir. 1992)
|
29
|
Palmieri v. Allstate Ins. Co.,
|
|
|
445 F.3d 179 (2d Cir. 2006)
|
23
|
Peirce v. Peirce,
|
|
|
994 P.2d 193 (Utah 2000)
|
24
|
Pinkham v. Sara Lee Corp.,
|
|
|
983 F.2d 824 (8th Cir. 1992)
|
30
|
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation v. Wagnon,
|
|
|
402 F.3d 10 1.5 (1 Oth Cir. 2005)
|
34
|
iv
Table of Authorities
(Continued)
|
Page(s)
|
Cases
|
|
R/S Assocs. v. New York Job Dev. Auth.,
|
|
|
771 N.E.2d 240 (N.Y. 2002)
|
21
|
San Huan New Materials High Tech, Inc. v. Int'l Trade Comm'n,
|
|
|
161 F.3d 1347 (Fed. Cir. 1999)
|
31
|
Seneca-Cavuga Tribe of Okla. v. Nat'l Indian Gaming Comm'n,
|
|
|
327 F.3d 1019 (10th Cir. 2003)
|
22
|
Silicon Image, Inc. v. Genesis Microchip Inc.,
|
|
|
395 F.3d 1358 (Fed. Cir. 2005)
|
31
|
Spirit Airlines, Inc. v. Northwest Airlines, Inc.,
|
|
|
431 F.3d 917 (6th Cir. 2005)
|
33
|
Ticor Title Ins. Co. v. Cohen,
|
|
|
173 F-3d 63 (2d Cir. 1999)
|
35
|
Time Warner Entm't Co. v. Everest Midwest Licensee,
|
|
|
381 F-3d 1039 (10th Cir. 2004)
|
23
|
Waddoups v. Amalgamated Sugar Co.,
|
|
|
54 P.3d 1054 (Utah 2002)
|
21
|
Wallace v. Free Software Found.,
|
|
|
No. 05-0618, 2006 WL 2038644 (S.D. Ind. Mar. 20, 2006)
|
32
|
Wallace v. Int'l Bus. Mach. Corp.,
|
|
|
No. 05-0618, 2006 WL 2038644 (S.D. Ind. Mar. 20, 2006)
|
31
|
Wallace v. Int'l Bus. Mach. Corp.,
|
|
|
No. 05-678, 2006 WL 1344055 (S.D. Ind. May 16, 2006)
|
32, 35
|
Westmoreland Coal Co. v. Entech, Inc.,
|
|
|
794 N.E.2d 667 (N.Y. 2003)
|
22
|
Wingets. Inc. v. Bitters,
|
|
|
500 P.2d 1007 (Utah 1972)
|
24
|
v
Table of Authorities
(Continued)
|
Page(s)
|
Statutes and Rules
|
|
17 U.S.C. § 501
|
30
|
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)
|
20
|
|
|
|
Other Authorities
|
|
11 Williston on Contracts § 32:11 (4th ed. 1990)
|
24
|
3 Nimmer on Copyright § 12.11 (2005)
|
27
|
Am. Heritage College Dictionary 96 (4th ed. 2004)
|
28
|
Dennis M. Kennedy, A Primer on Open Source Licensing Legal Issues:
Copyright
|
|
|
Copyleft, and Copyfuture, 20 St. Louis U. Pub. L. Rev. 345
(2001)
|
28
|
Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws (1971)
|
21
|
Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 250 cmt. b (1981)
|
25
|
vi
Defendant/Counterclaim-Plaintiff International Business Machines
Corporation ("IBM") respectfully submits this memorandum in opposition
to the motion of Plaintiff/Counterclaim- Defendant The SCO Group, Inc.
("SCO") for partial summary judgment on IBM's Sixth, Seventh and Eighth
Counterclaims.
Preliminary Statement
Despite its dramatic public claims, SCO has failed to identify any code
allegedly owned by SCO and copied by IBM into Linux. By contrast,
undisputed facts establish that SCO literally copied, without
alteration, hundreds of thousands of lines of code developed and
copyrighted by IBM. Undisputed facts also establish that SCO repudiated
and breached its only license to that IBM-owned material. Thus, IBM
asserted the three claims at issue on this motion: (1) breach of the
GNU Public License or "GPL" (Sixth Counterclaim), (2) promissory
estoppel (Seventh Counterclaim), and (3) copyright infringement (Eighth
Counterclaim).
SCO's motion for summary judgment as to these claims depends almost
entirely on a single premise: SCO did not violate the GPL. But the
premise is false. SCO did breach the GPL, blatantly and repeatedly.
Indeed, SCO repudiated the GPL. For that reason, SCO's motion against
IBM'.s counterclaims for breach of the GPL (Sixth Counterclaim) and
promissory estoppel (Seventh Counterclaim) fails. (See Section
1.)
Similarly, SCO's motion against IBM's counterclaim for copyright
infringement (Eighth Counterclaim) fails because SCO's only license to
the IBM Copyrighted Works automatically terminated when SCO breached
the GPL. From that point on, SCO lacked a license to the IBM
1
Copyrighted Works, and SCO's continued distribution of the IBM
Copyrighted Works infringed IBM's copyrights.
1 (See Section II.)
Finally, SCO is wrong in asserting that it is entitled to summary
judgment on IBM's claims for breach of the GPL (Sixth Counterclaim)
and promissory estoppel (Seventh Counterclaim) because IBM has not
incurred compensable harm. SCO financially damaged IBM, and IBM is in
any event entitled to nominal damages for SCO's repeated violations of
the GPL. Moreover, IBM seeks injunctive and declaratory relief in
addition to damages on these claims. (See Section III.)
Material Facts Requiring Denial of SCO's Motion
IBM has set forth in detail the undisputed and indisputable facts
material to its counterclaim for copyright infringement (Eighth
Counterclaim) in its Memorandum in Support of Its Motion for Summary
Judgment on Its Claim for Copyright Infringement (IBM's Eighth
Counterclaim).
2
IBM relies on and incorporates by reference the facts detailed there,
which also are material to its Sixth and Seventh Counterclaims, and
provides only a summary overview here. (See IBM Copy. Br. ¶¶
1-47.)
A. The GNU General Public License ("GPL"). (See IBM Copy.
Br. ¶¶ 1-16.)
1. Under the so-called "Free Software" model of software development,
copyright owners make their source code available to others to use,
modify, and distribute on a royalty-free
2
basis, in exchange for the reciprocal right to use, modify and
distribute any additions or improvements contributed by those licensees
and sublicensees, on the same royalty-free basis. (IBM Copy. Br. ¶¶
1-5.)
2. The most widely used legal license agreement that makes the Free
Software model possible is the GNU Public License or "GPL".
3
(IBM Copy. Br. ¶¶ 6-7; Exs. 128, 129.)
3. The intent of those who offer or accept licenses to software under
the GPL is clearly stated in its Preamble. (Ex. 128, Preamble; Ex. 129,
Preamble.) At its simplest level, the GPL provides that anyone may
copy, modify or distribute the work on a royalty-free basis, provided
they agree to distribute that work -- and to license any derivative
works -- only under the terms of the GPL. (Ex. 128 §§ 2, 4-6; see
also Ex. 129 §§ 2, 8-10.) As the Preamble to the GPL states, in
part:
[T]he GNU General Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom
to share and change free software -- to make sure the software is free
for all its users. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make
sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software
(and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code
or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use
pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these
things. To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that
forbid anyone to deny you these rights.... These restrictions translate
to certain responsibilities for you if you distribute copies of the
software, or if you modify it. For example, if you distribute copies of
[a program licensed under the GPL] ... you must give the recipients all
the rights that you have. (Ex. 128, Preamble; see also Ex. 129,
Preamble.)
4. Section 1 of the GPL grants every licensee ("you") the right to
"copy and distribute verbatim copies of the [Program's] source code as
you receive it". (Ex. 128 § 1; Ex.129 § 1.) Section 1 of the GPL
permits a GPL licensee such as SCO to collect a fee to cover the
3
cost of "the physical act of transferring a copy", and permits a
licensee to charge fees for service and warranty protection. (Ex. 128 §
1; Ex. 129 § 1.) It authorizes no other type of license fee.
(Id.)
5. Section 2 of the GPL also authorizes a GPL licensee such as SCO to
"copy and distribute" modifications of a GPL-licensed program "under
the terms of Section 1" provided SCO also meets certain additional
conditions, including:
You must cause any work that you distribute or publish, that in whole
or in part contains or is derived from the Program or any part thereof,
to be licensed as a whole at no charge to all third parties under the
terms of this License. (Ex. 128 § 2(b) (emphasis added); see als Ex.
129 § 2(c).)
6. Section 6 of the GPL provides that each time a GPL licensee
redistributes "the Program (or any work based on the Program), the
recipient automatically receives a license from the original licensor
to copy, distribute or modify the Program". (Ex. 128 § 6; see
also Ex. 129 § 10.) Section 6 prohibits a licensee such as SCO from
imposing on other GPL licensees, including its customers and any other
Linux licensees, "further restrictions on the recipients' exercise of
rights granted" under the GPL. (Id.)
7. Section 4 of the GPL states:
You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Program except
as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt otherwise to
copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program is void, and will
automatically terminate your rights under this License. (Ex. 128 § 4
(emphasis added); see also Ex. 129 § 8.)
8. The intellectual property rights of GPL licensees or others may not
be used to "overwrite" or create an exception to the restrictions of
the GPL. (Ex. 128 § 7; Ex. § 129 & 11.) Section 7 of the GPL
expressly states:
If, as a consequence of a court judgment or allegation of patent
infringement or for any other reason (not limited to patent issues),
conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or
otherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do
not excuse you from the conditions of this License. If you
cannot distribute so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations
under this
4
License and my other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence
you may not distribute the Program at all. (Ex. 128 § 7 (emphasis
added); Ex. 129 § 11.)
B. IBM's Offer of a License to Its Copyrighted Works Under the
GPL. (See IBM Copy. Br. ¶¶ 1123-28.)
9. IBM's extensive contributions to Linux on which IBM holds valid
registered copyrights include the works listed in Table 1 of IBM's
Copyright Counterclaim Brief (collectively, the "IBM Copyrighted
Works"). (IBM Copy. Br. ¶¶ 24-25; see Ex. 167 ¶¶ 5-7; Ex. 5 ¶¶
20, 108.)
10. IBM offered licenses to the IBM Copyrighted Works only under the
GPL, by posting the IBM Copyrighted Works on the Internet as part of
the Linux development process. (Ex. 167 ¶7.) Subsequently, each of
IBM's Copyrighted Works was incorporated into SCO's Linux products, as
indicated in Table 1 of the IBM Copyright Counterclaim Brief. (Ex. 167
¶ 7; IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 26.)
11. Linux, including the IBM Copyrighted Works in Linux, is distributed
under the GPL. (IBM Copy. Br. ¶¶ 19-21; Ex. 272 ¶ 9.)
C. SCO's Acceptance of, and Promise to Abide by, the Terms and
Conditions of the GPL Covering the IBM Copyrighted Works.
(See IBM Copy. Br. ¶¶ 29-39.)
12. SCO was founded in 1994 under the name Caldera, Inc., as a
commercial distributor of Linux products. (IBM Copy. Br. ¶¶ 22, 29.)
Over the years, SCO has developed and marketed a number of software
products containing Linux code, including Caldera Network Desktop,
OpenLinux and SCO Linux. (IBM Copy. Br. ¶¶ 22, 29.)
13. For most of its existence, SCO conducted its business under the
GPL. (Ex. 221 ¶¶ 21-27.) The GPL affected significant aspects of SCO's
business, and SCO's executives understood that the GPL granted SCO the
right to copy, modify and distribute Linux and set the terms according
to which SCO was required to treat the Linux kernel. (Ex. 221 ¶ 23.)
Indeed,
5
SCO recognized that it was required to abide by the terms of the GPL if
SCO wanted to copy, modify or distribute Linux, and SCO appears to have
adhered to the terms of the GPL through June 2002. (Ex. 221 ¶ 24.)
14. In November 2002, SCO began distributing a product it called "SCO
Linux Server 4.0, powered by UnitedLinux". (IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 30.) SCO
Linux Server 4.0 contained, verbatim, the entirety of each IBM
Copyrighted Work, with the exception of IBM's copyrighted "Omni Print
Driver". (IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 30.) SCO also distributed a product it called
"OpenLinux 3.1.1 Asia", which contained, verbatim, the entirety of
IBM's "Omni Print Driver". (IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 31; Ex. 406; Ex. 69 ¶ 13.)
15. By copying and distributing the IBM Copyrighted Works in Linux, SCO
voluntarily accepted a license to those works under the terms of the
GPL. As Section 5 of the GPL states:
You are not required to accept this License, since you have not signed
it. However, nothing else grants you permission to modify or distribute
the Program or its derivative works. These actions are prohibited by
law if you do not accept this License. Therefore, by modifying or
distributing the Program (or any work based on the Program), you
indicate your acceptance of this License to do so, and all its terms
and conditions for copying, distributing or modifying the Program or
works based on it. (Ex. 128 § 5; see also Ex. 129 § 9.)
16. In addition to distributing Linux, SCO made representations to its
partners in the development community (commercial and non-commercial)
and to prospective customers that SCO would not copy, modify, or
distribute the Linux kernel (including the code contributed by IBM
except on the terms set out in the GPL. (Ex. 221 ¶ 25.) SCO also made
clear and unambiguous representations or promises not to assert rights
to other programs distributed by Caldera under the GPL except on the
terms set out in the GPL. (Ex. 221 ¶ 25.) SCO reinforced those
representations with its conduct, including by making contributions of
code to Linux under the GPL. Every Linux product SCO ever used or
distributed included code made available to
6
SCO only through the GPL. (Ex. 221 ¶ 26.) And every Linux product that
SCO distributed included a notice that the Linux kernel and various
other components were being made available to others under the GPL.
(Ex. 221 ¶ 26.)
17. In developing SCO Linux Server 4.0, SCO also made certain
modifications and additions to the Linux 2.4.19 kernel, such that SCO
Linux Server 4.0 is a derivative work of the Linux 2.4.19 kernel within
the meaning of the GPL. (IBM Copy. Br. ¶¶ 12, 35; Ex. 474 at
SCO1170557-558; Ex. 617; Ex. 128 § 2(b).)
D. SCO's Repudiation and Blatant Violations of the GPL.
(See IBM Copy. Br. ¶¶ 40-47.)
18. As early as August 2003, SCO began publicly declaring that the GPL
was unenforceable, and thereby repudiated the GPL. (IBM Copy. Br. ¶
41.)
19. In this litigation, SCO has repeatedly repudiated the GPL in its
pleadings and discovery responses. (IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 42)
20. By May of 2003, SCO began overtly and explicitly asserting rights
over Linux inconsistent with SCO's rights and obligations under the
GPL, including by seeking license fees from users of Linux and imposing
restrictions on users of Linux that are prohibited by the terms of the
GPL. (IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 43.) SCO took the position that use of Linux
(which SCO had both received and distributed under the terms of the
GPL) was not authorized without a paid license from SCO, and began
threatening and initiating litigation against companies that used
Linux. (IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 43.)
21. As a result of this campaign of fear, uncertainty and doubt, SCO
succeeded in actually collecting license fees from a number of Linux
users, in excess of the specific and limited fees permitted by the GPL
to be collected. (IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 44.) SCO claimed that this license
was necessary for "commercial use of the Linux 2.4 and later versions".
For example,
7
SCO sold Everyone's Internet, Ltd. what SCO representatives described
as a "Linux license" or "Linux IP license". (IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 44.) These
license fees violated the GPL.
22. In its "SCO Intellectual Property License for Linux" SCO purported
to prohibit the use, modification, or distribution of the Linux source
code. (IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 45.) This restriction violated the GPL.
23. SCO purported to prohibit its Linux "licensees" under the "SCO
Intellectual Property License for Linux" from further sublicensing or
distributing Linux. (Ex. 578 § 3.2; Ex. 403; IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 46.) This
restriction violated the GPL.
24. Also by May of 2003, SCO began offering its own Linux
customers an agreement whereby SCO "agreed to hold its Linux customers
harmless from any SCO intellectual property issues regarding Linux".
(Ex. 284 ¶ 8 & Exs. B, D.)
SECTION REDACTED
These restrictions violated the GPL.
E. The Termination of SCO's Rights to the IBM Copyrighted Works and
Linux.
25. SCO's violations of the GPL automatically terminated SCO's license
to the IBM Copyrighted Works pursuant to Section 4 of the GPL. (Ex. 128
§ 4; Ex. 129 § 8.) This termination of SCO's rights to the IBM
Copyrighted Works was effective immediately upon SCO's violations. (Ex.
128 § 4; Ex. 129 § 8.)
26. As a long-time participant in the Linux market, member of
UnitedLinux, and both licensor and licensee under the GPL, SCO
understood that under GPL Section 4, SCO's rights
8
under the GPL would terminate automatically if SCO violated the GPL.
(Ex. 221 ¶¶ 23-24.) As SCO explained in a SCO "white paper":
[A]ny individual or company can package products that are licensed
under the GPL, and charge a nominal fee for the distribution media and
packaging, but they must still make the source code to the product
available. Anyone who buys the product is free to recopy, alter, or
redistribute, so long as the GPL is followed. (Ex. 262 at SCO
1269182.)
27. Despite the automatic termination of SCO's rights to the IBM
Copyrighted Works, however, SCO continued to make available copies of
the IBM Copyrighted Works, each of which explicitly stated that it was
licensed under the terms of the GPL. (IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 47.) All told,
SCO distributed or made Linux files publicly available for almost four
years. SCO distributed SCO Linux 4.0 for at least a year and a half,
from November 19, 2002 until May 31, 2004. (Ex. 284 14.) SCO also
continued to post Linux files on its own Internet website until as
recently as August 2006, and made those Linux files publicly available
to others to copy at will. (Ex. 215 ¶ 100; Ex. 226 ¶¶ 13-16; IBM Copy.
Br. 137.)
28. SCO's repeated repudiation and breach of the GPL has harmed IBM. As
a foreseeable consequence of SCO's repudiation and breach of the GPL,
among other wrongs by SCO, SECTION REDACTED (Ex. 589 ¶¶ 21-23; Ex. 591
¶¶ 1.A, 36.) These costs are ongoing. (Id.) IBM has also
incurred quantifiable damages under the methodology of SCO's own
experts. (Ex. 591 ¶¶ 1.C, 33-34.) Further facts material to the scope
of IBM's injury are set forth in detail in IBM's Memorandum in
Opposition to SCO's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on IBM's
Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Counterclaims.
9
Responses to SCO's Statement of "Undisputed" Facts
To avoid any ambiguity and pursuant to DUCivR 56-1(c), IBM further
responds as follows to SCO's "Statement of Undisputed Facts":
1. IBM's Sixth Counterclaim, for breach of the GNU General Public
License, alleges that SCO has breached the GPL by "among other things,
copying, modifying, sublicensing or distributing programs licensed
under the GPL, including IBM contributions, on terms inconsistent with
the GPL, and seeking to impose additional restrictions on the
recipients of programs licensed under the GPL, including IBM
contributions, distributed by SCO. " (IBM's 2d Am. Counterclaims ¶
145.) The counterclaim also alleges that SCO's license under the GPL
"terminated" because of this alleged breach. (IBM's 2d Am.
Counterclaims ¶ 146.)
IBM does not dispute that the quoted language is accurate but disputes
that paragraph 1 provides a complete or accurate statement of IBM's
Sixth Counterclaim. IBM refers to its Second Amended Counterclaims ¶¶
142-147 for their contents and what IBM "alleges" in its Sixth
Counterclaim. (Ex. 4.)
2. IBM's Seventh Counterclaim, for promissory estoppel, seeks to
recover damages resulting from IBM's reliance on SCO's promise not to
breach the GPL. (IBM's 2d Am. Counterclaims ¶¶ 148-53)
IBM disputes that the paraphrase in paragraph 2 provides a complete or
accurate statement of IBM's Seventh Counterclaim. For example, the
relief sought includes declaratory and injunctive relief. IBM refers to
its Second Amended Counterclaims ¶¶ 148-153 for their contents and what
IBM "seeks" in its Seventh Counterclaim. (Ex. 4.)
3. IBM's Eighth Counterclaim, for copyright infringement, alleges
that SCO has infringed upon IBM's copyrights by "copying, modifying,
sublicensing and/or distributing Linux products except as expressly
provided under the GPL." (IBM's 2d Am. Counterclaims ¶ 159.)
IBM does not dispute that the quoted language is accurate but disputes
that paragraph 3 sets forth a complete or accurate statement of IBM's
Eighth Counterclaim. IBM refers to its Second Amended Counterclaims ¶¶
154-161 for their contents and what IBM "alleges" in its Eighth
Counterclaim. (Ex. 4.)
10
4. Section 0 of the GPL (Ex. A) provides: "Activities other than
copying, distribution and modification are not covered by this license;
they are outside of its scope."
IBM does not dispute that the quoted language appears in Section 0 of
the GPL. IBM refers to the text of Section 0 of the GPL for what it
"provides" in full.
5. Section O further states: "This License applies to any program
... which contains a notice placed by the copyright holder saying it
may be distributed under the terms of this General Public License." It
is undisputed that IBM placed such a notice with respect to the code it
added to Linux, and that SCO never placed such a notice on any code in
Linux.
IBM does not dispute that the quoted language appears in Section 0 of
the GPL. IBM refers to the text of Section 0 for what it "states" in
full. IBM disputes that "SCO never placed such a notice on any code in
Linux" in that SCO distributed its Linux product "SCO Linux Server 4.0
powered by UnitedLinux" with GPL notices. (Ex. 226 ¶ 10; Ex. 278 ¶ 6;
Ex. 221 ¶ 77; Ex. 176 ¶¶ 12-13.)
6. Under the GPL, a licensee may charge a fee for its distribution
of GPL licensed software. (GPL Preamble ¶¶ 2, 4; GPL § 1)
IBM does not dispute that GPL licensees may charge a fee for "the
physical act of transferring a copy" of GPL licensed software.
(See ¶¶ 3-4.
4)
The GPL only permits a "fee for the physical act of transferring a
copy" and "warranty protection in exchange for a fee". (Ex. 128 § 1;
Ex. 129 § 1.)
7. Section 1 of the GPL authorizes the general public to copy and
distribute verbatim copies of the source code of the licensed program,
subject to certain notice publication requirements. (GPL § 1.) SCO
complied with all of these requirements in all of its Linux
distributions. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 9; (Ex. B); Hughes Dep. (5/11/04) at 67
(Ex. C; Sontag Dep (5/12/04) at 211 (Ex. D).)
IBM disputes that SCO's purported paraphrase and characterization of
Section 1 of the GPL in the first sentence of this paragraph is an
accurate and complete statement of what
11
Section 1 "authorizes". Section 1 authorizes, inter alia, licensees to
"charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy" and to
"offer warranty protection in exchange for a fee". (Ex. 128 § 1; Ex.
129 § 1.) IBM refers to the text of Section 1 for what it "authorizes".
IBM further disputes this paragraph in that GPL Section 1 authorizes
certain actions not to the "general public", but to "each licensee"
under the GPL. (Ex. 128 §§ 0, 1; Ex. 129 §§ 0, 1.) The license is
offered to all (the "general public"), but must be accepted by
each prospective licensee. (Ex. 128 §§ 0, 5; Ex. 129 §§ 0, 9.) IBM
further disputes that SCO complied with the requirements of Section 1.
SCO sought to impose and did impose licensing fees through its "SCO
Intellectual Property License for Linux" other than fees for the
physical act of transferring a copy or for warranty protection. (Ex. C
to Ex. 284.)
8. Section 2 of the GPL states that if a licensee modifies the
licensed work the modfied work must be licensed at no charge. (GPL § 2)
SCO never modified any of IBM's contributions to Linux. (Sontag Decl.
(Ex. E) ¶ 31) In contrast to Section 2 (which authorizes the copying of
modified works), Section 1 (which authorizes verbatim copying) does not
require no-charge licensing. (GPL §§ 1-2)
IBM disputes that SCO's purported paraphrase and characterization of
Section 2 of the GPL is an accurate and complete statement of what
Section 2 "states" and what Sections 1 and 2 "authorize". IBM refers to
the text of Sections 1 and 2 for what those sections "state" and
"authorize". IBM further disputes this paragraph in that IBM's
copyrighted works are licensed subject to the GPL both individually and
as component parts of the larger Linux operating system work. (¶ 10.)
IBM further disputes this paragraph in that SCO did modify the Linux
work, which included the IBM Copyrighted Works, in the course of
creating SCO Linux 4.0, powered by UnitedLinux and SCO Open Linux 3.1.1
Asia, and so was fully subject to the provisions of Section 2 of the
GPL. (¶ 17.)
9. Section 3 of the GPL authorizes the general public to copy and
distribute verbatim copies of the licensed program in object code or
executable form, subject to the condition that it be accompanied by the
source code or by an offer to provide the source code.
12
(GPL § 3) SCO complied with these conditions in all of its Linux
distributions. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 9; Hughes Dep. (5/11/04) at 67; Sontag
Dep. at 211)
IBM does not dispute that Section 3 imposes certain conditions on each
licensee but disputes that SCO's purported paraphrase and
characterization of Section 3 of the GPL is an accurate and complete
statement of what Section 3 "authorizes". IBM refers to the text of
Section 3 for what that section "authorizes". IBM further disputes this
paragraph in that Section 3 authorizes certain actions not to the
"general public", but to "each licensee" under the GPL. (Ex. 128 §§ 0,
3; Ex. 129 §§ 0, 3.) The license is offered to all (the "general
public"), but must be accepted by each prospective licensee. (Ex. 128
§§ 0, 5; Ex. 129 §§ 0, 9.)
IBM further disputes that SCO complied with the conditions of Section
3. Section 3 provides that a licensee "may copy or distribute the
Program (or a work based on it, under Section 2) in object code or
executable form under the terms of Sections 1 and 2". (Ex. 128 § 3.)
SCO has collected, or attempted to collect, royalties or licensing fees
from Linux licensees in excess of the fees permitted under the GPL for
the "physical act of transferring" a copy of code or for warranty
protection. (¶¶ 18-24; Ex. 128 § § 1-3; Ex. 129 §§ 1, 2, 4.) And SCO
purports to restrict Linux licensees to object code only and to
prohibit further licensing and sublicensing of Linux. (¶¶ 23-27.)
10. Nothing in the GPL prohibits the licensing of other
intellectual property that may pertain to the Program. In fact, Section
7 of the GPL contemplates that "the Program " may implicate other
intellectual property rights. (GPL § 7.)
IBM disputes this paragraph in that the GPL expressly prohibits a GPL
licensee from licensing intellectual property in a manner that imposes
"further restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted
hereunder". (Ex. 128 § 6; ¶ 6.) The GPL also prohibits a GPL licensee
from copying, modifying, sublicensing, or distributing the Program
"except as expressly provided under this License". (Ex. 128 § 4; ¶ 7.)
IBM further disputes this paragraph in that
13
GPL Section 7 does not "contemplate" that a GPL licensee such as SCO
would attempt to use its purported intellectual property to impose on
other GPL licensees restrictions that violate the GPL. IBM refers to ¶
8 above for what Section 7 "contemplates".
11. Section 3 of the GPL does not prohibit a licensee from charging
"royalty or licensing fees" on the licensed works. Section 3 does not
mention fees or royalties. (GPL § 3)
IBM does not dispute that the words "royalty or licensing fees" do not
appear in the text of Section 3, but IBM disputes this paragraph in
that Section 3 provides in part that "you may copy and distribute the
Program (or a work based on it, under Section 2) in object code or
executable form under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 provided that
you also do one of the following". (Ex. 128 § 3 (emphasis added).)
Accordingly, Section 3 "mentions" fees to the extent that Section 3 is
subject to Sections 1 and 2. Section 1 permits a licensee only to
"charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy" and to
"offer warranty protection for a fee". (Ex. 128 § 1.) Section 2 permits
no fees at all. (Ex. 128 § 2(b); ¶ 5.)
12. Section 3 of the GPL requires that a party who distributes
copies of works subject to the GPL in executable form, provide the
customer "with the complete corresponding machine- readable source
code" on a "medium customarily used for software interchange" or with
an offer to provide the code at cost. (GPL § 3.)
IBM does not dispute that Section 3 includes the quoted language. IBM
refers to the text of Section 3 of the GPL for what that section
"requires".
13. Section 4 of the GPL states that a licensee's use of licensed
material beyond the scope ofthe License will "automatically terminate"
the licensee's rights under the License, but it does not say when such
a termination becomes effective, and it provides no mechanism by which
the licensee is put on notice of an alleged unauthorized use of the
licensed material. (GPL § 4)
IBM does not dispute that, pursuant to Section 4 of the GPL, a
licensee's use of licensed material beyond the scope of the license
will "automatically terminate" the licensee's rights under the license.
IBM disputes that SCO's purported paraphrase and characterization of
Section
14
4 of the GPL is an accurate and complete statement of what Section 4
"states". IBM refers to the text of Section 4, quoted in full above,
for what it "states". (Ex. 128 § 4; ¶ 7.)
IBM further disputes that the GPL "does not say when such a termination
becomes effective, and it provides no notice of an alleged unauthorized
use". The phrase "automatically terminates" indicates that termination
becomes effective at the time of "any attempt otherwise to copy,
modify, sublicense or distribute the Program". (¶ 7.) Notice of
unauthorized use is provided by the GPL itself, which clearly sets
forth the terms and conditions for use. Any other use is unauthorized.
(¶ 7.)
14. GPL Section 6 states that each time a licensee redistributes
"the Program (or any work based on the Program), the recipient
automatically receives a license from the original licensor to copy,
distribute or modify the Program subject to these terms and conditions.
[The licensee] may not impose any further restrictions on the
recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein. " (GPL § 6.)
IBM does not dispute that GPL Section 6 includes the quoted language.
IBM refers to the text of Section 6 for what it "states" in full.
15. SCO copied and distributed the Linux kernel and other related
Linux software for years prior to 2003, when SCO discovered that IBM
and others had misappropriated SCO's copyrighted UNIX code by
contributing it to Linux without SCO's approval. On May 14, 2003, SCO
suspended all sales and marketing of its entire Linux product line.
(Hughes Decl. ¶ 3; Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at 179, 186 (Ex. F); Hughes
Dep. (5/11/04) at 16, 37, 48, 51.)
IBM disputes this paragraph in that SCO has not identified, in this
paragraph or elsewhere, any SCO copyrighted UNIX code that has been
"misappropriated" by IBM. (See Ex. 54; see also IBM's
Mem. in Support of its Motion for Summary Judgment on SCO's Contract
Claims (SCO's First, Second, Third and Fourth Causes of Action) ¶¶
237-238.) Nor has IBM misappropriated any SCO code. IBM does not
dispute that SCO copied and distributed the Linux kernel and other
related Linux software, including the IBM Copyrighted Works, prior to
2003. However, SCO allowed its pre-existing customers to purchase
Linux-related products after May 14, 2003. (Ex. 284 ¶ 3; ¶ 27.) SCO
continued to sell Linux products until at least May
15
31, 2004. (Ex. 284 ¶ 4; ¶ 27.) SCO continued to post Linux files on its
own Internet website as recently as August 2006 and made them available
to others to copy at will. (Ex. 215 ¶ 110; Ex. 226 ¶¶ 13-16; ¶ 27.)
16. In light of the legal issues arising from the misappropriation,
SCO began offering its Intellectual Property License for UNIX (the
"UNIX License") for sale beginning on August 5, 2003. (Hughes Decl. ¶
6.) The UNIX License is a license of SCO's UNIX software, not a license
or sublicense of Linux or of any IBM-copyrighted work. (Hughes Dep.
(3/2/06) at 181-82; Sontag Decl. ¶ 30.)
IBM does not dispute that SCO began offering a license for sale on
August 5, 2003, but IBM disputes this paragraph in that the license SCO
began offering for sale on August 5, 2003 was the "SCO Intellectual
Property for Linux". (Ex. C to Ex. 284; ¶¶ 21-22.) The "SCO
Intellectual Property License for Linux" is a run-time license for the
use, in binary form only, of certain unspecified code contained in
Linux, and SCO claimed that this license was necessary for "commercial
use of the Linux 2.4 and later versions". (IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 44; ¶ 21.)
It is a Linux license, and Linux includes the IBM Copyrighted Works.
(Ex. C to Ex. 284; ¶¶ 9-11; 21-24.)
17. SCO has never attempted to license or sublicense Linux or any
IBM copyrighted work, or any other GPL-licensed source code. (Sontag
Decl. ¶ 30.) SCO offered its UNIX License, beginning in August 2003,
because SCO believes IBM had misappropriated SCO's proprietary material
and contributed that material into Linux. (Hughes Decl. ¶6)
IBM disputes this paragraph in that SCO attempted to, and did, license
or sublicense Linux. (¶¶ 21-24.) Linux is distributed under the GPL. (¶
11.) In its "SCO Intellectual Property License for Linux", SCO
purported to license the use of Linux only in object code format, thus
prohibiting the use, modification, or distribution of the Linux source
code. (¶ 21; IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 44; Ex. 284 ¶ 6 and Ex. C.) SCO purported
to prohibit Linux "licensees" under the SCO Intellectual Property
License for Linux from further sublicensing and distributing Linux. (¶
23.) SCO also licensed or attempted to license its own customers who
used SCO Linux products. (¶ 24.)
16
18. SCO has not sought to collect royalties or licensing fees for
any of IBM's allegedly copyrighted works. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 9; Sontag
Decl. ¶ 30.)
IBM disputes this paragraph in that SCO has sought to collect, and has
collected, from Linux users licensing fees through its SCO Intellectual
Property License for the use of Linux in binary form, as stated in
response to the previous paragraph. IBM's copyrighted works are
included in Linux. (¶¶ 9-11.)
19. SCO has not attempted to sell a UNIX License to anyone who
received a Linux distribution from SCO. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 8.)
IBM disputes this paragraph to the extent that anyone who received a
Linux distribution from SCO paid a fee for the use of SCO Linux. (Ex.
284 ¶¶ 2, 4, 5, 7.) SCO "agreed to hold its Linux customers harmless
from any SCO intellectual property issues" (Ex. 284 ¶ 8), and provided
a compliance license to its customers already using SCO Linux (Ex. 303
at 287:25- 288:19) in partial consideration for the fees SCO already
charged for its Linux products. Thus, SCO distributed Linux subject to
an agreement pertaining to SCO intellectual property rights and not as
expressly provided in the GPL. (Ex. 284 ¶ 8.)
20. SCO distributed SCO Linux Server 4.O for less than six months,
from November 19, 2002, until May 14, 2003. (Hughes Decl.¶¶ 2-3; Hughes
Dep. (3/2/06) at 186; Hughes Dep. (5/11/04) at 16, 37, 57.) Once SCO
arrived at the conclusion that Linux was tainted with misappropriated
material, SCO suspended its sales of Linux products pending
clarification of the intellectual property issues. (Hughes Decl. ¶3;
Hughes Dep, (3/2/06) at 179, 186; Sontag Dep. (5/12/04) (Ex. E) at
208-09.) After May 14, 2003, SCO entered into no further obligations to
sell SCO Linux Server 4.0 or any other Linux product. (Hughes Decl. ¶
3; Hughes Dep. (5/11/04) at 53) SCO made limited post-May 14 sales to
customers in consideration of its obligations to its customers. (Hughes
Decl. ¶¶ 3-5; Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at 188-89; Hughes Dep. (5/11/04) at
72-73; Sontag Decl. ¶¶ 12-14; Sontag Dep. (5/12/04) at 221-23) The last
sale of Linux Server 4.0 was on May 31, 2004. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 4; Hughes
Dep. (11/1/05) at 60 (Ex. G).) All of SCO's Linux distributions (both
prior to and after May 2003) were made under the GPL, with no charge of
any nature for royalties or licensing fees. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 9.)
IBM does not dispute that SCO distributed Linux for the months November
2000 through May 2003. However, SCO distributed Linux or made Linux
files publicly available for almost four years. (¶ 27.) SCO continued
to post Linux files on its own Internet website for at least an
17
additional two years and three months after May 2003, until as recently
as August 2006, and made those Linux files available to others to copy
at will. (¶27.)
IBM further disputes that "all of SCO's Linux distributions (both prior
to and after May 2003) were made under the GPL, with no charge of any
nature for royalties or licensing fees". SCO's distributions of Linux
to its own customers, both prior to and after May 2003, were made
subject to SCO's agreement "to hold its Linux customers harmless from
any SCO intellectual property issues regarding Linux". (Ex. 284 ¶8, ¶¶
24.) That agreement is not a term or condition of the GPL. (See
Ex. 128.) Therefore, SCO's distribution of Linux to its own customers
was not "under the GPL". (See Ex. 128.) Similarly, SCO's
licensing of Linux to non- SCO customers using Linux through the "SCO
Intellectual Property License for Linux" includes terms and conditions
that are not part of the GPL. (¶¶ 21-23; Ex. 128.) Therefore, SCO's
licensing of non-SCO customers using Linux also was not "under the
GPL". (See Ex. 128.)
21. In accordance with its obligations, SCO continued to provide
its Linux customers with internet access to files containing Linux
source code and enhancements thereto. SCO stored these files on its
computers, which its customers could access via the internet. In
accordance with its agreement with the UnitedLinux consortium, SCO
provided customers who purchased SCO Linux Server 4.0 with a password
to enter at a log-in screen on SCO's download site so that only they
would have access. (Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at 195; Hughes Dep. (11/1/05)
at 37- 38, Sontag Decl. ¶¶17-19.)
IBM disputes this paragraph in part. IBM does not dispute that SCO
continued to copy and distribute Linux source code after May 2003,
including the IBM Copyrighted Works. As recently as August 2006, SCO
had posted Linux files on its own Internet website and made those files
available to others to copy at will. (¶ 27.) No password was necessary
for access to these files in August 2006; they were available from
SCO's publicly accessible online server. (¶ 27.)
22. SCO permitted access to Linux source code files via its website
after August 5, 2003, because of SCO's pre-existing contractual
obligations with its customers and with the UnitedLinux consortium.
(Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at 190-91, 194, Sontag Decl. ¶ 17-19.) SCO
complied by making the source code available to its customers on its
website. SCO removed all Linux-related code from its website promptly
after expiration of the last of its contractual
18
commitments, on December 31, 2004. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 11; Hughes Dep.
(3/2/06) at 191, 194; Hughes Dep. (11/1/05) at 37-38, 121; SontagDecL ¶
17.)
IBM does not dispute that SCO continued to copy and make available
Linux source code files after August 5, 2003. IBM disputes this
paragraph in that SCO "removed all Linux-related code" from its website
in December 2004 in that as recently as August 2006, SCO had posted
Linux files on its own Internet website and made those files available
to others to copy at will. (¶ 27.) No password was necessary for access
to these files in August 2006; they were available from SCO's publicly
accessible online server. (¶27.)
23. SCO suspended its Linux distribution activities in May 2003
(Hughes Decl. ¶ 3; Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at 186,), months before it
began selling the UNIX License in August of 2003. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 6.)
This suspension was also months before IBM registered any of the
sixteen alleged copyrights. (IBM Mem. in Supp. of IBM's Mot. for
Partial Summ. J on Its Eighth Counterclaim (8/16/04) ¶8.)
IBM disputes this paragraph in that SCO distributed SCO Linux 4.0 until
May 31, 2004. (Ex. 284 ¶ 4). SCO continued to post Linux files on its
own Internet website for at least an additional two years and three
months beyond that date, until as recently as August 2006, and made
those Linux files available to others to copy at will. (¶ 27.) The IBM
Copyrighted Works were registered within five years of the first
publication of the relevant work. (Ex. 167 ¶ 5; IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 25.)
24. Prior to the filing of its Counterclaim on August 6, 2003, IBM
never provided SCO with any notice of its claim that SCO's rights under
the GPL had terminated or that SCO was infringing its copyrights.
(Hughes Decl. ¶ 12)
IBM disputes this paragraph in that IBM made its IBM Copyrighted Works
available to SCO and others only under the terms and conditions of the
GPL. (Ex. 167 ¶ 7.) The GPL provides, inter alia, that "any attempt
otherwise to copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program is void
and will automatically terminate your rights under the License". (Ex.
128 § 4.) The GPL itself, therefore, provided notice to SCO that "any
attempt" by it to license Linux other
19
than as provided in the GPL would automatically terminate its rights
under the GPL and result in the infringement of IBM's copyrights. (¶ 7;
Response to ¶ 13.)
25. SCO never repudiated the GPL, and it always endeavored to
comply with its GPL obligations. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 9; Hughes Dep.
(3/2/06) at 200-01; Sontag Dep. (5/12/04) at 211.)
IBM disputes this paragraph in that SCO repeatedly repudiated and
breached the GPL. (¶¶ 18-24.)
Standard of Decision
Summary judgment is proper "if the pleadings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits,
if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and
that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law."
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477
U.S. 317, 322-24 (1986); In re Grandote Country Club Co., 252
F.3d 1146,1149 (10th Cir. 2001). On this motion, the Court must view
the record "in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party", IBM.
Grandote Country Club, 252 F.3d at 1149 (citation and internal
quotation marks omitted).
To prevail on a claim of copyright infringement, a copyright holder
must establish (1) that it owns the copyright to the copyrighted work,
and (2) that the alleged infringer violated one or more of the holder's
exclusive rights. See Autoskill, Inc. v. Nat'l Educ. Support
Sys., Inc. 994 F.2d 1476, 1487 (10th Cir. 1993); Intellectual
Reserve, Inc. v. Utah Lighthouse Ministry, Inc., 75 F.Supp. 2d
1290,1292 (D. Utah 1999).
20
Argument
I. SCO BREACHED THE GPL.
SCO first seeks summary judgment against IBM's Sixth and Seventh
Counterclaims on the ground that "SCO did not breach the GPL".
5
(SCO Br. at 9.) Specifically, SCO asserts that it did not breach the
GPL because that license governs only SCO's actions vis-a-vis its own
customers, and that SCO never violated the GPL in its dealings with
its own customers. That is, SCO argues that it only sought to
impose a Linux license that violates the GPL on non-SCO customers --
the vast majority of the Linux-using world. (SCO Br. at 11.) The
argument is too clever by half, and wrong. Not only did SCO violate the
GPL in its dealings with its own customers, but SCO's own license under
the GPL was in any case conditioned on SCO's GPL compliance with
respect to all Linux licensees. Instead of complying with its
GPL obligations, SCO violated and repudiated them repeatedly.
A. The Plain and Unambiguous Language of the GPL Forecloses SCO's
Interpretion.
Because the language of the GPL is unambiguous, the Court need not look
beyond the "four corners" of the license to determine its meaning.
See Fairborn Commercial, Inc. v. Am. Housing Partners.
Inc., 94 P.3d 292, 295 (Utah 2004); R/S Assocs. v. New York Job
Dev. Auth., 771 N.E.2d 240, 242 (N.Y. 2002).
6
The Court should "consider each provision in relation to all
21
of the others, with a view toward giving effect to all and ignoring
none". Fairborn, 94 P.3d at 295 (citations and quotation marks
omitted); see Westmoreland Coal Co. v. Entech, Inc., 794
N.E.2d 667, 670 (N.Y. 2003) (reading contract "as a harmonious and
integrated whole").
Ignoring these principles, SCO bobs and weaves through a selective
reading of the GPL to construct an "interpretation" that would nullify
the whole structure and plainly expressed intent of that license.
Specifically, SCO would have this Court rule that under the terms of
the GPL, SCO was permitted to demand license fees from the whole world
of Linux users, while itself continuing to enjoy and make use of the
no-charge license to Linux (including the IBM Copyrighted Works) that
SCO obtained only pursuant to the GPL.
7
That is not what the GPL says.
8
22
The overarching intent of the GPL is clearly stated in its Preamble:9 the GPL "is intended to
guarantee your freedom to share and change free software -- to make
sure the software is free for all its users". (Ex. 128, Preamble ¶ 1; ¶
3.) The Preamble also emphasizes that the GPL is "designed to make sure
that you [the licensee] have the freedom to distribute copies of free
software", to access the source code of the licensed software, and to
"change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs". (Ex.
128, Preamble ¶ 2; ¶ 3.) And the Preamble states that the GPL protects
this freedom by imposing restrictions on the licensee "if you
distribute copies of the software, or if you modify it". (Ex. 128,
Preamble ¶3; ¶3.)
The specific, numbered sections of the GPL implement this intent,
granting rights to GPL licensees such as SCO -- provided they comply
with its prohibitions against imposing restrictions on the exercise of
those rights by other GPL licensees:
-
Section 1 grants to every licensee or sublicense under the GPL
the right to "copy and distribute verbatim copies of the [Program's]
source code as you receive it". (Ex. 128 § 1; Ex. 129 § 1; ¶ 4.) SCO's
Linux licensing program purported to prohibit users of SCO's Linux
distribution, as well as other Linux licensees, from further "copying
and distributing" the Linux source code.
-
Section 2 grants a licensee such as SCO the right to create and
distribute derivative works (as SCO did in creating the SCO Linux
distributions around the licensed Linux Kernel) -- provided that
the derived work "as a whole" (which in this case included the Linux
Kernel) must be "licensed as a whole at no charge to all third
parties under the terms of this license" (Ex. 128 § 2(b) (emphasis
added); Ex. 129 § 2(c); ¶ 5.) Yet SCO sought to impose on all users of
the Linux Kernel license fees and restrictions incompatible with
"the terms of this [GPL] license".
23
-
Section 4 states that a licensee such as SCO may not "copy, modify,
sublicense, or distribute the Program except as expressly provided
under this license".
10
(Ex. 128 § 4 (emphasis added); see Ex. 129 § 8; ¶ 7.) Yet SCO
purported to sublicense on, and to impose on Linux sublicensees, terms
different (and far more restrictive and burdensome) than those
"expressly provided under this license".
-
Section 6 emphasizes that each sublicensee under the GPL "automatically
receives a license from the original licensor to copy, distribute or
modify the Program subject to these [GPL] terms and restrictions", and
provides that one claiming rights under the GPL ["You"] "may not impose
any further restriction on the recipient's exercise of the rights
granted herein". (Ex. 128 § 6; See Ex. 129 § 10; ¶ 6.) Yet, SCO
did purport to impose further restrictions on the rights of Linux
licensees.
We review SCO's violations in more detail below.
11
24
B. SCO Repeatedly Repudiated and Breached the GPL
1. SCO repeatedly repudiated the GPL, and continues to do so on this
motion.
A stated intention to challenge "the viability and life of the license
itself constitutes a "distinct and unequivocal refusal to perform under
the license, thus causing a material breach, or repudiation, of the
contract". Dow Chemical Co. v. United States, 226 F.3d 1334,
1345 (Fed. Cir. 2000).
12
SCO has challenged - and continues to challenge on this motion - the
"validity and life" of the GPL.
SCO decided to repudiate the GPL at least as early as August 20, 2003,
according to the testimony of its president Mr. Darl McBride. (¶ 18.)
In this litigation, SCO has repeatedly repudiated the GPL by asserting,
for example, that the GPL is "unenforceable, void/and or voidable" and
"violates the U.S. Constitution together with copyright antitrust and
export control laws". (¶ 19.) Indeed, even in its brief on this motion,
SCO continues to repudiate the GPL by arguing that the GPL is an
illegal restraint of trade and might be per se illegal
under the antitrust laws. (See SCO Br. at 13-14.)
2. SCO violated the GPL by placing license restrictions on Linux
licensees, including its own Linux customers, on terms prohibited by
the GPL.
Once the unambiguous language of the GPL has been accurately parsed,
SCO's multiple breaches of that license are clear. As set forth in the
IBM Copyright Counterclaim Brief, SCO violated the GPL by charging
prohibited licensing fees for Linux, imposing an "object code only"
restriction on Linux licensees (including, but not limited to, Linux
licensees who received
25
Linux from SCO13), and
purporting to prohibit Linux licensees (including, but not limited to,
SCO's own customers) from further sublicensing or distributing Linux.
(IBM Copy. Br. at 19-20 & ¶¶ 43-46; ¶¶ 23-24, above.) Each of these
restrictions violates the unambiguous language of the GPL:
-
SCO sought to sell, and did sell, "SCO Intellectual Property Licenses
for Linux" to Linux licensees who received Linux from distributors
other than SCO. (¶¶ 21-24; IBM Copy. Br. ¶¶ 43-44.) Charging licensing
fees for Linux -- including components of Linux -- is prohibited by GPL
Sections 4 and 2(b). SCO, as a GPL licensee, may only charge other GPL
licensees fees "for the physical act of transfening a copy" or for
"warranty protection". (Ex. 128 § 1, ¶ 4.) The fees imposed by SCO's
"SCO Intellectual Property License for Linux" are fees charged "other
than as expressly provided" under the GPL. (Ex. 128 §§ 2(b), 4; ¶¶ 5, 7.)
14
-
SCO purported to limit Linux licensees to only the object code
(i.e., machine readable) format. (¶ 22.) SCO purported to impose
this restriction on SCO licensees,
SECTION REDACTED
and on other Linux licensees intimidated into accepting a "SCO
Intellectual Property License for Linux" (¶¶ 21-23). This restriction
violates Sections 4 and 6 of the GPL because all GPL licensees are
entitled to use, modify, and distribute Linux source code. (Ex. 128 §§
1-4, 6; ¶¶ 3-8.) Moreover, SCO purportedly retained for itself the
rights to the source code. (¶ 22.) This violates the same provisions,
and is inconsistent with the intent of the GPL. As the Preamble to the
GPL emphasizes, "if you distribute copies of such a program, whether
gratis or for a fee, you
26
must give the recipients all the rights that you have". (Ex. 128,
Preamble; ¶3.)
-
SCO also purported to prohibit its own Linux sublicensees and other
Linux licensees from further sublicensing or distributing Linux. (¶¶
23- 24.) This restriction also violates the GPL -- including Sections 4
and 6 -- because all GPL licensees are entitled to sublicense and
distribute Linux. (Ex. 128 §§ 1-3, 6; ¶¶ 3-8.)
These indisputable violations of the GPL establish that SCO's motion
against IBM's counterclaim for breach of the GPL (Sixth Counterclaim)
and promissory estoppel (Seventh Counterclaim) must fail. On the
contrary, summary judgment as to liability should be granted in IBM's
favor on these counterclaims.
II. SCO INFRINGED IBM'S COPYRIGHTS.
SCO seeks summary judgment on IBM's copyright infringement counterclaim
(Eighth Counterclaim), on the theory that it was licensed to use, copy,
distribute and sublicense IBM's Copyrighted Works, by virtue of the
GPL. But once SCO repudiated and breached the GPL, it had no rights
under that license, and it never had any rights to the IBM Copyrighted
Works from any other source.
15
IBM indisputably owns the copyrights to the IBM Copyrighted Works. (IBM
Copy. Br. at 17.) As a result -- and as summarized below and laid out
in more detail in the
27
IBM Copyright Counterclaim Brief -- SCO's violation of IBM's copyrights
follows inescapably from SCO's repudiation and breaches of the GPL.
(See IBM Copy. Br. at 20-21.)
A. Because SCO Breached the GPL, its License to the IBM Copyrighted
Works Terminated.
1. SCO's license to the IBM Copyrighted Works "automatically
terminated" upon its breach.
The language of the GPL is unambiguous with respect to termination of
rights. Section 4 provides that "any attempt" to "copy, modify,
sublicense or distribute the Program", "except as expressly provided"
under the GPL, "is void, and will automatically terminate your rights
under this License".
16
(Ex. 128 § 4; ¶ 7.) The word "automatic" means "acting or operating in
a manner essentially independent of external influence or control" or
"self-regulating". Am. Heritage College Dictionary 96 (4th ed.
2004). The phrase "automatically terminates", therefore, indicates that
termination becomes effective at the time of "any attempt otherwise to
copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program", without requiring
or being contingent on any further action by the licensors. Because SCO
violated the terms of the GPL in material (and indeed central) ways,
any rights it previously had to the IBM Copyrighted Works
"automatically terminated" at the time of the violation.
17(¶¶ 4, 25-27.)
28
2. SCO knew, or should have known, that its license to the IBM
Copyrighted Works had terminated and that it was infringing IBM's
copyrights.
SCO suggests in its statement of "undisputed" fact no. 24 that SCO
lacked notice of its copyright infringement prior to IBM's filing its
counterclaim. On the contrary, SCO was on notice that it was infringing
because it knew, or should have known, that its rights under the GPL
automatically terminated at the time it violated the GPL.
SCO is an experienced participant in the software industry and
historically -- until some time after it launched this lawsuit -- a
Linux company. (¶¶ 12-13.) And it is indisputable that SCO had copies
of the GPL and regularly licensed software to others under the terms of
the GPL prior to 2003. (¶ 13.) Given these facts, SCO cannot credibly
assert that it lacked notice that it had violated the GPL and that
violating the GPL would terminate its rights under that license.
Cf. N.A.S. Imp., Corp. v. Chenson Enters., Inc., 968 F.2d
250, 253 (2d Cir. 1992) (concluding more likely than not that seller of
handbags "in a market rife with knock-offs" knew the bags were
counterfeit); Fitzgerald Publishing Co., Inc. v. Baylor Publishing
Co., 807 F.2d 1110, 1115 (2d Cir. 1986) (concluding that because of
position in publishing market as experienced publisher, publisher had
constructive notice of his own willful copyright infringement).
Certainly, the contrary inference is amply sufficient to defeat summary
judgment. SCO,
29
therefore, knew or should have known that it was distributing IBM's
Copyrighted Works without a license to do so, and was thus infringing
IBM's copyrights in those works (as well as copyrights held by many
others in other works contributed to and comprising parts of Linux).
B. SCO Continued Copying and Distributing the IBM Copyrighted Works
without a License to do so.
Copyright infringement consists of the unauthorized performance of acts
(such as copying, modifying, and sublicensing) that the copyright
holder has the exclusive right to perform. 17 U.S.C. § 501; Gates
Rubber Co. v. Bando. Chem. Indus. Ltd., 9 F.3d 823, 831-32 (10th
Cir. 1993). There is no dispute that SCO has repeatedly copied the IBM
Copyrighted Works. (¶14.) Nor is there any legitimate dispute that SCO
continued to copy the IBM Copyrighted Works after it breached the GPL
and thus after its license under the GPL had terminated. (¶¶ 14, 27.)
Indeed, SCO continued to copy and distribute Linux on the Internet as
recently as August of this year.
18 (¶27.)
C. SCO's Attacks on the Enforceability of the GPL are Without
Merit.
SCO's assertions that the GPL is unenforceable are without merit.
First, SCO submits that "public policy" favors protecting
intellectual property rights and encouraging settlements. (SCO Br. at
13.) This is true but irrelevant. "Protecting intellectual property" in
no way weighs against letting intellectual property owners such as IBM
license their property to all at no charge subject to terms such as
those provided by the GPL, for the purpose of promoting Free Software
-- any more than it precludes patent holders from permitting industry
30
participants to practice their inventions on a royalty-free basis,
subject to restrictions, for the purpose of promoting industry
standards.
19
Nor does the public policy favoring "settlements" empower SCO to create
an artificial dispute, and then "settle" that dispute by charging
license fees and imposing restrictions in violation of the GPL. Public
policy certainly does not favor all "settlements". See,
e.g., Cofield v. Ala. Public Service Comm'n, 936 F.2d 512,
516 (11th Cir. 1991) (affirming district court dismissal of suit by
pro-se litigant found to be "a con-artist who sought to use the legal
system to extort settlements from unsuspecting parties").
Second SCO suggests (as it has previously claimed explicitly)
that the GPL violates the antitrust laws. (See SCO Br. at 13-14;
¶¶ 18-19.) The Seventh Circuit recently rejected SCO's position and
concluded: "The GPL and open-source software have nothing to fear from
the antitrust laws". Wallace v. Int'l Bus. Mach. Corp., No.
06-2454, -F.3d-, slip op. at 5-6 (7th Cir. Oct. 26, 2006) (Ex. A
hereto) (rejecting arguments that the GPL restrains trade and
constitutes illegal "price fixing"). The only other U.S. courts that
have spoken to the competitive implications of the GPL, including the
district court affirmed in Wallace, similarly have rejected
SCO's position. Those courts concluded that the GPL "encourages, rather
than discourages, free competition" and benefits consumers. Wallace
v. Free Software Foundation, No. 05-0618, 2006
31
WL 2038644, at *3 (S.D. Ind. Mar. 20,2006) (Ex. B hereto); see
Wallace v. Int'l Bus. Mach. Corp., No. 05-678, 2006 WL 1344055,
at *2 (S.D. Ind. May 16, 2006) (Ex. C hereto). Moreover, SCO cites no
evidence -- expert or otherwise -- that would permit summary judgment
in its favor on this basis.
III. SCO'S GPL VIOLATIONS HARMED, AND CONTINUE TO HARM,
IBM.
Finally, SCO is wrong in asserting that IBM was not damaged by SCO's
conduct -- and that SCO is thus entitled to summary judgment on IBM's
Sixth Counterclaim (breach of the GPL) and Seventh Counterclaim
(promissory estoppel). (See SCO Br. at 5 n.1; SCO's Mem. in
Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment on IBM's Second, Third,
Fourth, and Fifth Counterclaim at 12-15.)
A. SCO Financially Damaged IBM, and IBM is In Any Event Entitled to
Nominal Damages.
SCO's GPL violations entitle IBM to at least nominal damages on the
Sixth Counterclaim for breach of the GPL. See Bair v. Axiom
Design LLC 20 P.3d 388, 392 (Utah 2001) (explaining that it is
"well settled" that nominal damages are recoverable upon breach of
contract); Kronos, Inc. v. AVX Corp., 612 N.E.2d 289, 292 (N.Y.
1993) ("Nominal damages are always available in breach of contract
action".). Thus, SCO's footnoted damages argument is no basis for
summary judgment as to liability. Moreover, IBM has proffered expert
evidence that it was financially damaged by SCO's violations of the
GPL.
First, as IBM expert Professor J. R. Kearl will testify at
trial, under the methodology of SCO's own experts (offered in support
of SCO's affirmative case), IBM has suffered quantifiable damages
resulting from SCO's wrongful conduct, including its GPL violations. (¶
28; Ex. 591 ¶¶ 1.C, 33-34.)
32
Second, it is the opinion of Professor Kearl, based upon the
detailed analysis presented in his reports,
SECTION: REDACTED
Professor Kearl has determined, and will opine at trial using the
methodology set out in his expert reports,
SECTION REDACTED
These opinions, together with the facts and data upon which they are
based, and the other opinions expressed by Professor Kearl, present a
reasonable and reliable opinion that is sufficient to create a genuine
issue of material fact as to IBM's damages. This is especially so when
this evidence is considered in the light most favorable to IBM, as it
must be on SCO's motion for summary judgment. See e.g.,
Spirit Airlines, Inc. v. Northwest Airlines, Inc., 431 F.3d 917,
931 (6th Cir, 2005).
21
B. IBM is Entitled to Injunctive and Declaratory Relief
Furthermore, even if it were true (as it is not) that IBM has suffered
no damage as a result of SCO's GPL violations, summary judgment on
these counterclaims would not be appropriate because IBM seeks
injunctive and declaratory relief in addition to damages on its Sixth
and Seventh Counterclaims. To obtain injunctive relief, IBM must
establish: "(1) actual success on
33
the merits; (2) irreparable harm unless the injunction is issued; (3)
the threatened injury outweighs the harm that the injunction may cause
the opposing party; and (4) the injunction, if issued, will not
adversely affect the public interest." Prairie Band Potawatomi
Nation v. Wagnon, 402 F.3d 1015, 1019 (10th Cir. 2005) (internal
quotation marks omitted). IBM has satisfied all four of these factors.
First, IBM has established actual success on the merits by
showing that SCO has blatantly and repeatedly repudiated and breached
the GPL, and has violated IBM's copyrights by continuing to copy and
distribute Linux. (¶¶ 25-28.)
Second, SCO's continued copying of IBM Copyrighted Works -- as
recently as August of this year -- demonstrates a likelihood that SCO
will continue to breach the GPL and infringe IBM's copyrights. (127.)
Where the wrong is copyright infringement, irreparable harm absent an
injunction is presumed upon such a showing. See Country Kids
'N City Slicks, Inc. v. Sheen, 77 F.3d 1280, 1288-89 (10th Cir.
1996) (presuming irreparable harm at preliminary injunction stage);
see also Concrete Machinery Co. v. Classic Lawn Ornaments,
Inc., 843 F.2d 600, 611 (1st Cir. 1988) (same); CBS Broad., Inc.
v. EchoStar Comms. Corp., 450 F.3d 505, 517 n.25 (11th Cir. 2006)
(presuming irreparable harm at permanent injunction stage).
Moreover, even if SCO were to establish on this motion (as it cannot)
that IBM has not demonstrated compensable harm, that would be so only
because the damages flowing from SCO's GPL violations are difficult to
measure. SCO's violations have cast fear, uncertainty and doubt on the
GPL and thereby upended the foundation of IBM's (and other GPL
licensors' and licensees') Linux-related businesses, which are built on
the free availability of Linux under the GPL. Thus, "irreparable harm"
to IBM is established by the fact that it would be difficult to measure
the harm or to fashion an adequate remedy at law. See Ticor
Title Ins. Co. v. Cohen,
34
173 F.3d 63, 69 (2d Cir. 1999) (irreparable harm found where "it would
be very difficult to calculate monetary damages that would successfully
redress the" loss of business wrought by breach of non-compete
agreement); Liveware Publ'g Inc. v. Best Software Inc., Nos.
04-1788, 04-2028, 125 Fed. Appx. 428, 431-433 (not precedential) (3d
Cir. Mar. 8, 2005) (Ex. E hereto) (defendant caused irreparable harm to
plaintiff's business relationships by threatening plaintiff's business
partners and end users with copyright infringement litigation, and
actually suing one such partner).
Third, the threatened injury to IBM outweighs the harm that an
injunction may cause SCO. Indeed, SCO states no facts on this motion
indicating that it would suffer any harm from an injunction.
Furthermore, because SCO has violated the GPL -- its only license to
the IBM Copyrighted Works -- any "injury" that SCO might suffer if
enjoined from further breach of that license should be given no weight
at all. See Autoskill, 994 F.2d at 1498 (even
"devastating" impact on infringer's business would merit little
consideration, as infringer "cannot be permitted to construct its
business around infringement" (internal quotation omitted)).
Fourth, an injunction will advance, not harm, the public
interest. The GPL protects not just the copyrights of IBM and other GPL
licensors, but also GPL licensees and end users of software developed
under the Free Software model. (See ¶¶ 1-2.) The public interest
factor, therefore, weighs in favor of the issuance of an injunction
because an injunction will (1) uphold copyright protections, see
Autoskill, 994 F.2d at 1499, and (2) protect the public interest
in the GPL and Free Software, cf. Wallace v. Free Software
Foundation, No. 05-0618, 2006 WL 2038644, at *3 (noting benefits to
consumers of GPL); Wallace v. Int'l Bus. Mach. Corp., No.
05-678, 2006 WL 1344055, at *2 (same).
35
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, SCO's motion for partial summary judgment
dismissing IBM's Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Counterclaims must be
denied.
DATED this 10th day of November, 2006.
SNELL & WILMER L.L.P.
_________[Signature]____
Alan L. Sullivan
Todd M. Shaughnessy
Amy F. Sorenson
CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE LLP
Evan R. Chesler
Roger G. Brooks
David R. Marriott
Attorneys for Defendant/Counterclaim-Plaintiff
International Business Machines Corporation
Of Counsel:
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Alec S. Berman
[Address]
[Telephone]
Attorneys for Defendant/Counterclaim-Plaintiff
International
Business Machines Corporation
36
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on the 11th day of November, 2006, a true and
correct copy of the foregoing was served by electronic mail, pursuant
to the agreement of the parties, on the following:
Brent O. Hatch
HATCH, JAMES & DODGE, P.C.
[Address]
[Email]
Edward Normand
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER, LLP
[Address]
[Email]
______[Signature]______
37
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on the 22nd day of November, 2006, a true and
correct copy of the foregoing was electronically filed with the Clerk
of the Court and delivered by CM/ECF system to the following:
Brent O. Hatch
Mark F. James
HATCH, JAMES & DODGE, P.C.
[Address]
Stephen N. Zack
Mark J. Heise
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
[Address]
/s/ Todd M. Shaughnessy
38
1
Indeed, for the reasons set forth in IBM's Memorandum in Support of Its
Motion for Summary Judgment on Its Claim for Copyright Infringement
(IBM's Eighth Counterclaim), the Court should instead grant summary
judgment that SCO is liable for copyright infringement on IBM's Eighth
Counterclaim, and the Court should enjoin SCO from any further
infringement of IBM's copyrights.
2
IBM herein refers to its Memorandum in Support of Its Motion for
Summary Judgment on Its Claim for Copyright Infringement (IBM's Eighth
Counterclaim) (Docket No. 784) as "IBM Copyright Counterclaim Brief" or
"IBM Copy. Br."
3
A variant of the GPL, the "Lesser General Public License" ("LGPL'),
controls certain of IBM's Copyrighted Works, but is not different from
the GPL in any way relevant to the present motion. It is explained more
fully at IBM Copy. Br. ¶ 7. "GPL" is used herein to refer collectively
to the GPL and/or the LGPL.
4
Relevant paragraph number(s) in the foregoing Material Facts Requiring
Denial of SCO's Motion are cited in this Response and in the Argument
that follows as "¶___"
5
SCO does not argue that there is an absence of issues of material fact
with respect to any element of promissory estoppel. See, e.g.,
J.R. Simplot Co. v. Sales King Int'l, Inc., 17 P.3d 1100, 1107
(Utah 2000) (stating elements under Utah law); Kaye v. Grossman,
202 F.3d 611, 615 (2d Cir. 2000) (stating elements under New York law).
Even with respect to this Seventh Counterclaim, SCO's argument is that
it did not breach the GPL. (See SCO Br. at 7.)
6
Utah courts apply the "most significant relationship" analysis
described in the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws (1971) to
determine the choice of law in contract and other cases. See
Waddows v. Amalgamated Sugar Co., 54 P.3d 1054, 1059 (Utah
2002). On this motion, however, the Court need not reach the choice of
law issue because Utah law and New York law are in accord on the issues
that must be reached to address SCO's sole argument on this motion,
namely, that SCO did not breach the GPL. Throughout this brief, IBM
cites to both Utah law and New York law.
7
As set forth in the immediately following section, SCO's statement that
it did not offer a license to anyone who received Linux from SCO (SCO
Br. at 11) is factually false.
8
SCO's statement that, in effect, it is "dangerous" to interpret the GPL
only by looking within its four corners and considering each provision
in relation to the others not only flies in the face of the unambiguous
language of the GPL and standard rules of contract interpretation, it
also is not supported by the very cases on which SCO relies. (SCO Br.
at 12.) In each case SCO cites -- both of which involve the
construction of a treaty or statute, not interpretation of a contract
-- the court looked to the intent of the document at issue and
concluded that application of the canon of statutory construction
"expressio unius est exclusio alterius" was unwarranted where it led to
a result inconsistent with the clear intent of the document. See
Ford v. United States, 273 U.S. 593, 612-613 (1927) (concluding
canon inapplicable because of "palpable incongruity" of resulting
interpretation with intent of treaty); Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Okla.
v. Nat'l Indian Gaming Comm'n, 327 F.3d. 1019, 1034-35 (10th Cir.
2003) (concluding canon inapplicable because "canon is not particularly
useful where legislative history clearly evinces congressional
intent"). The intent of the GPL, as expressed in the unambiguous
language of that license, is that fees and restrictions not set out in
that license are barred. (¶¶ 1-8.)
9
Preambles and other prefatory language in a contract may aid its
interpretation. See, e.g., Time Warner Entm't Co. v. Everest
Midwest Licensee, 381 F.3d 1039, 1048 (10th Cir. 2004) (applying
Kansas law and looking to "premises" section for purpose of agreement);
Palmieri v. Allstate Ins. Co., 445 F.3d 179, 188 (2d Cir. 2006)
(applying New York law and concluding that if insurance contract were
ambiguous, "all doubts would be removed by the preamble to the
Agreement").
10
SCO argues that because Section 4 of the GPL "effectively ratifies
sublicenses granted prior to the alleged breach, IBM cannot complain
that the initial grant was unauthorized". (SCO Br. at 10) Section 4
does no such thing. Section 4 simply provides that SCO's breaches of
its obligations under the GPL do not deprive its sublicensees of their
own rights under the GPL. This follows from the fact that, by operation
of the unambiguous language of the GPL, SCO's Linux "licensees" receive
their license to Linux and the IBM Copyrighted Works from IBM itself
and others who originally licensed Linux and its component parts under
the GPL: "Each time you redistribute the Program (or any work based in
the Program), the recipient automatically receives a license from
the original licensor to copy, distribute or modify the Program
subject to these terms and conditions." (Ex. 128 § 6 (emphasis added);
see Ex. 129 § 10.)
11
SCO's interpretation of the GPL as permitting it to charge and restrict
all Linux licensees should be rejected for another reason: "a fair and
equitable result will be preferred over a harsh and unreasonable one",
and "an interpretation that will produce an inequitable result will be
adopted only where the contract so expressly and unequivocally so
provides that there is no other reasonable interpretation to be given
it". Peirce v. Peirce, 994 P.2d 193, 198 (Utah 2000) (citation
and quotation marks omitted); see Wingets, Inc. v.
Bitters, 500 P.2d 1007, 1010 & n.8 (Utah 1972) (collecting
cases); Kahn v. New York Times Co., 503 N.Y.S.2d 561, 566 (N.Y.
App. Div. 1986) (rejecting defendant's interpretation as "not only
unsupported by the contract language" but "highly inequitable as
well"). See generally 11 Williston on Contracts § 32:11 (4th ed.
1990). It would be particularly harsh and unreasonable to interpret the
GPL in such a way as to render SCO a "super Linux licensee", able to
gain the benefits of the free use of Linux under the GPL while ignoring
its conditions and saddling the rest of the Linux world licensed under
the GPL with SCO's fees and restrictions.
12
See also Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 250 cmt.b (1981)
(stating that "language that under a fair reading 'amounts to a
statement of intention not to perform except on conditions which go
beyond the contract' constitutes a repudiation") (quoting Comment 2 to
Uniform Commercial Code § 2-610).
13
Even if SCO had exempted its own customers from these restrictions
(which it did not), SCO would not have escaped a clear violation of the
GPL. Among other reasons, Section 2(b) clearly states that when a GPL
licensee such as SCO distributes software subject to the GPL, it must
license that software under the GPL terms to "all third parties", not
simply those that receive the code directly from the distributing
party.
14
SCO states that Section 7 of the GPL "expressly contemplates and warns"
that Linux is not "beyond the reach of patents, copyrights or other
intellectual property". (SCO Br. at 11.) That may be true, but is
irrelevant. That the GPL "contemplates" the existence of other
intellectual property does not excuse SCO's breach of the conditions to
its GPL license. Indeed, Section 7 states that notwithstanding
any conditions imposed on a GPL Licensee by intellectual property,
those conditions "do not excuse you from the conditions of this
License". (¶8.) It further states, "If you cannot distribute so as to
satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this License and any
other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you may not
distribute the Program at all." (¶8.) SCO cannot both breach the GPL
and remain licensed under the GPL.
15
SCO's frontal attack on the GPL is ironic and self-defeating: If it
were true (and it is not) that the GPL is void, then SCO never had a
license to Linux or IBM's Copyrighted Works, and was infringing IBM's
copyrights for the entire time period that SCO copied and distributed
the IBM Copyrighted Works. As the GPL states, "You are not required to
accept this License.... However, nothing else grants you permission to
modify or distribute the [IBM Copyrighted Works) or [their) derivative
works." (Ex. 128 § 5; Ex. 129 § 9; ¶15.)
Indeed, because IBM has licensed the IBM Copyrighted Works only
pursuant to the GPL (¶ 10), it would be SCO's burden to prove that a
license authorizing its use of the IBM Copyrighted Works exists if the
GPL were void (as it is not). See Carson v. Dynegy, Inc.,
344 F.3d 446, 451 n. 5 (5th Cir. 2003) (noting that because existence
of license is affirmative defense, defendant "bears the burden of
proving that such a license exists"); Bourne v. Walt Disney Co.,
68 F.3d 621, 631 (2d Cir. 1995) (stating where issue is whether license
is held by accused infringer, "it is sensible to place upon [accused
infringer] the burden of coming forward with evidence of a license").
See also 3 Nimmer on Copyright § 12.11 (2005). SCO offers
no evidence of a license to the IBM Copyrighted Works other than the
GPL.
16
See Dennis M. Kennedy, A Primer on Open Source Licensing
Legal Issues: Copyright Copyleft, and Copyfuture, 20 St. Louis U.
Pub. L. Rev. 345, 360 (2001) (noting that a party's rights under the
GPL automatically terminate if it attempts to sublicense works subject
to the GPL on terms other than those "expressly provided under the
GPL"). (Ex. 576.)
17
The pair of Eleventh Circuit cases cited by SCO -- which apply Florida
law -- are inapposite for at least two reasons. (SCO Br. at 10.)
First, the cases do not involve licenses with automatic
termination provisions. SCO's rights automatically terminated pursuant
to GPL § 4 when SCO repudiated and breached the GPL. No additional
action by IBM was required to terminate the license. (¶¶4, 25-27.)
Second, the recoveries sought by plaintiffs in the cited cases
bear no relation to the recovery sought by IBM. In each Florida case,
the breach was a failure to pay fees owed, and the plaintiff sought
both to recover those fees under the contract and to recover damages
for copyright infringement for the same period. Both courts recognized
that use of the copyrighted work absent or outside the scope of the
license would have supported a claim for copyright damages. See
MCA Television Ltd v. Public Interest Corp., 171 F.3d 1265, 1275
(11th Cir. 1999) ("Of course copyright protections remain in the
background to ensure that licensees do not use materials in ways that
exceed the scope of their licenses."); Jacob Maxwell, Inc. v.
Veeck, 110 F.3d 749, 753-54 (11th Cir. 1997) ("This is not a case
where payment of JMI's costs and public recognition of authorship were
made conditions precedent to the granted right to play. In such a case,
absent performance of the conditions, the 'license' would not have
issued and the Miracle's public performances of the song would have
violated JMI's copyright." (citation omitted)). These courts merely
sought to avoid a double recovery on the facts before them, and IBM
seeks no double recovery. Furthermore, even if it were true that IBM's
contract and copyright claims present a risk of double recovery (as
they do not), that would affect the entry of IBM's damage award in the
final judgment, not SCO's liability. See Bowers v. Baystate
Techs., Inc., 320 F.3d 1317, 1327 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (concluding
"entirely appropriate" for district court to permit jury separately to
consider and award damages on contract and copyright claims, and
affirming reduction of final damage award to prevent double recovery).
18
SCO's infringement is not excused by SCO's purported "obligations to
its customers" (as SCO suggests in its statement of "undisputed" facts
Nos. 20-22). Why a copyright infringer infringes simply is not
relevant to determining liability. See Pinkham v. Sara Lee
Corp., 983 F.2d 824, 829 (8th Cir. 1992) (explaining that "the
defendant's intent is simply not relevant" Fitzgerald Publ'g Co.,
Inc. v. Baylor Publ'g Co., Inc., 807 F.2d 1110, 1113 (2d Cir. 1986)
("Even an innocent infringer is liable for infringement.").
19
See, e.g., Silicon Image, Inc. v. Genesis Microchip Inc.,
395 F.3d 1358, 1359 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (describing patent owner who
granted limited royalty-free license to patent claims necessarily
infringed by anyone practicing industry standard in order to "foster
and develop the standard and have it adopted industry-wide"); Intel
Corp. v. VIA Techs., Inc., 319 F.3d 1357, 1359 (Fed. Cir. 2003)
(noting that Intel granted a limited royalty-free cross-license "to all
those interested in complying with an Intel-promulgated industry
standard).
Neither case cited by SCO offers any comfort to SCO's attempt to find
shelter in a public policy favoring the protection of intellectual
property rights -- after its blatant disregard of the intellectual
property rights of IBM. See San Huan New Materials High Tech,
Inc. v. Int'l Trade Comm'n, 161 F.3d 1347, 1363 (Fed. Cir. 1999);
Concrete Machinery Co. v. Classic Lawn Ornaments, Inc., 843 F.2d
600, 612 (1st Cir. 1988) (It is "virtually axiomatic that the public
interest can only be served by upholding copyright protections"
(citation and quotation marks omitted).). (See IBM Copy. Br. at
22.)
20
As IBM argues elsewhere, attorney fees can constitute compensatory
damages when incurred to mitigate the harm caused by a defendant's
actionable misconduct. See, e.g., Metro. Opera Assoc. V.
Local 100, No. 00-3613, 2005 WL 1712241, at *5-6 (S.D.N.Y. July 19,
2005) (Ex. D hereto) (concluding fees generated during course of
mitigating harm from defendant's defamation recoverable notwithstanding
"the American Rule" against recovery of attorney fees).
21
IBM further discusses the financial harm wrought by SCO's actions in
its Memorandum in Opposition to SCO's Motion for Partial Summary
Judgment on IBM's Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Counterclaims.
***********************************
Brent O. Hatch (5715)
Mark F. James (5295)
HATCH, JAMES & DODGE
[address, phone, fax]
Stuart H. Singer (admitted pro hac vice)
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
[address, phone, fax]
Robert Silver (admitted pro hac vice)
Edward Normand (admitted pro hac vice)
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
[address, phone, fax]
Stephen N. Zack (admitted pro hac vice)
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
[address, phone, fax]
Attorneys for The SCO Group, Inc.
_____________________________
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
_____________________________
THE SCO GROUP,
Plaintiff/Counterclaim-Defendant
v.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
MACHINES CORPORATION,
Defendant/Counterclaim-Plaintiff
___________________________
SCO'S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT
OF ITS MOTION FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT ON IBM'S SIXTH,
SEVENTH AND EIGHTH
COUNTERCLAIMS
Case No. 2:03CV0294DAK
Honorable Dale A. Kimball
Magistrate Judge Brooke C. Wells
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
Page
|
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
|
1
|
STATEMENT OF UNDISPUTED FACTS
|
2
|
I.
|
IBM'S COUNTERCLAIMS AND THE GPL
|
2
|
II.
|
SCO'S CONDUCT WITH RESPECT TO THE GPL
| 4
|
|
LEGAL STANDARD
| 7
|
ARGUMENT
| 7
|
I.
| SCO DID NOT BREACH THE GPL
| 9
|
|
A.
|
Where SCO Has Copied, Distributed or Sublicensed Linux, It Has Done
So in Compliance With the GPL
| 9
|
|
B.
|
SCO's Licensing of UNIX Did Not Breach the GPL
| 11
|
II.
|
SCO HAS NOT INFRINGED IBM'S COPYRIGHTS
| 11
|
|
A.
|
The GPL Authorized SCO's Re-Distributions of Linux
| 11
|
|
B.
|
Nothing in the GPL Supports IBM's Claim Of Breach and Retroactive
Termination
| 12
|
|
C.
|
IBM's Proposed Interpretation of the GPL Would Impermissibly
Interfere with Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights and Would
Raise Serious Antitrust Concerns
| 13
|
2
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
|
|
|
Cases
|
Page
|
Allegro Corp. v. Only New Age Music, Inc.,
|
|
|
No. Civ. 01-790-HU, 2003 WL 23571745 (D. Or. Jan. 23, 2003)
| 8
|
Bd. Of Dirs. And Officers, Forbes Fed. Credit Union v.
Nat'l Credit Union Admin.,
|
|
|
477 F.2d 777 (10th Cir. 1973)
| 14
|
Carpenter v. Boeing,
|
|
|
456 F.3d 1183 (10th Cir. 2006)
| 7
|
Concrete Mach. Co., Inc. v. Classic Lawn Ornaments, Inc.,
|
|
|
843 F.2d 600 (1st Cir. 1988)
| 13
|
Dreiling v. Peugeot Motors of Am., Inc.,
|
|
|
850 F.2d 1373 (10th Cir. 1988)
| 7
|
Ford v. United States,
|
|
|
273 U.S. 593 (1927)
| 12
|
Foresight Res. Corp. v. Pfortmiller,
|
|
|
719 F. Supp. 1006 (D. Kan. 1989)
| 8
|
Gates Rubber Co. v. Bando Chem. Indus., Ltd.,
|
|
|
9 F.3d 823 (10th Cir. 1993)
| 8
|
Grady v. de Ville Motor Hotel,
|
|
|
415 F.2d 449 (10th Cir. 1969)
| 13
|
Graham v. James,
|
|
|
144 F.3d 229 (2d Cir. 1998)
| 8
|
Grundberg v. Upjohn Co.,
|
|
|
140 F.R.D. 459 (D. Utah 1991)
| 13
|
Guthart v. White,
|
|
|
263 F.3d 1099 (9th Cir. 2001)
| 14
|
Indep. Serv. Orgs. Antitrust Litig.,
|
|
|
964 F. Supp. 1469 (D. Kan. 1997)
| 8
|
ii
3
|
|
|
Jacob Maxwell, Inc. v. Veeck,
|
|
|
110 F.3d 749 (11th Cir. 1997)
|
|
Justine Realty Co. v. Am. Nat'l Can Co.,
|
|
|
976 F.2d 385 (8th Cir. 1992)
| 13
|
Lawmaster v. Ward,
|
|
|
125 F.3d 1341 (10th Cir. 1997)
| 7
|
MCA Television, Ltd. v. Public Interest Corp.,
|
|
|
171 F.3d 1265 (11th Cir. 1999)
| 10
|
NLRB v. Local 32B-32J Serv. Employees Int'l Union,
|
|
|
353 F.3d 197 (2d Cir. 2003)
| 14
|
NYNEX Corp. v. Discon, Inc.,
|
|
|
525 U.S. 128 (1998)
| 14
|
San Juan New Materials High Tech, Inc. v. Int'l Trade Comm'n,
|
|
|
161 F.3d 1347 (Fed. Cir. 1998)
| 13
|
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Okla. v. Nat'l Indian Gaming Comm'n,
|
|
|
327 F.3d 1019 (10th Cir. 2003)
| 12
|
Stenograph L.L.C. v. Bossard Assocs., Inc.,
|
|
|
144 F.3d 96 (D.C. Cir. 1998)
| 8
|
Tolboe Constr. Co. v. Staker Paving & Constr. Co.,
|
|
|
682 P.2d 843 (Utah 1984)
| 7
|
United States v. Socony-Vacuum Oil Co.,
|
|
|
310 U.S. 150 (1940)
| 14
|
Other
|
Nimmer on Copyright § 10.15[A] at 10-120 (2004)
| 10
|
Restatement of Contracts § 90
| 7
|
iii
4
Plaintiff, the SCO Group, Inc. ("SCO"), respectfully submits this
Memorandum in Support of its Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on
IBM's Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Counterclaims ("IBM's Counterclaims").
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
IBM's Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Counterclaims concern certain programs
that IBM licensed for free use under the GNU General Public License and
Lesser General Public License (collectively, the "GPL"), and all turn
on the allegation that SCO has violated the GPL in seeking to enforce
its contractual and intellectual property rights. The Sixth
Counterclaim asserts that SCO breached the GPL. The Seventh
Counterclaim seeks to recover damages based on IBM's alleged reliance
on SCO's promise to not breach the GPL. The Eighth Counterclaim asserts
that SCO's distribution of Linux infringed IBM's alleged copyrights on
code it released to Linux under the GPL. These Counterclaims all fail
as a matter of law because it is undisputed that:
-
Where SCO copied, redistributed or sublicensed Linux, it did so in
compliance with the GPL;
-
Nothing in the GPL prohibits SCO from licensing its UNIX technology;
and
-
Nothing in the GPL or the case law supports IBM's argument for
"retroactive termination" and "retroactive infringement."
SCO further shows below that the GPL should not be read as IBM has read
it to interfere with SCO's right to enforce its own intellectual
property rights, or to allow a competitor to decide what may be charged
for an intellectual property license.
STATEMENT OF UNDISPUTED FACTS
I. IBM'S COUNTERCLAIMS AND THE GPL
1. IBM's Sixth Counterclaim, for breach of the GNU General Public
License, alleges that SCO has breached the GPL by "among other things,
copying, modifying, sublicensing or distributing programs licensed
under the GPL, including IBM contributions, on terms inconsistent with
the GPL, and seeking to impose additional restrictions on the
recipients of programs licensed under the GPL, including IBM
contributions, distributed by SCO." (IBM's 2d Am. Counterclaims ¶ 145.)
The counterclaim also alleges that SCO's license under the GPL
"terminated" because of this alleged breach. (IBM's 2d Am.
Counterclaims ¶ 146.)
2. IBM's Seventh Counterclaim, for promissory estoppel, seeks to
recover damages resulting from IBM's reliance on SCO's promise not to
breach the GPL. (IBM's 2d Am. Counterclaims ¶¶ 148-53.)
3. IBM's Eighth Counterclaim, for copyright infringement, alleges that
SCO has infringed upon IBM's copyrights by "copying, modifying,
sublicensing and/or distributing Linux products except as expressly
provided under the GPL." (IBM's 2d Am. Counterclaims ¶ 159.)
4. Section 0 of the GPL (Ex. A) provides: "Activities other than
copying, distribution and modification are not covered by this license;
they are outside of its scope."
5. Section 0 further states: "This License applies to any program . . .
which contains a notice placed by the copyright holder saying it may be
distributed under the terms of this General Public License." It is
undisputed that IBM placed such a notice with respect to the code it
added to Linux, and that SCO never placed such a notice on any code in
Linux.
6. Under the GPL, a licensee may charge a fee for its distribution of
GPL licensed software. (GPL Preamble ¶¶ 2, 4; GPL § 1.)
6
7. Section 1 of the GPL authorizes the general public to copy and
distribute verbatim copies of the source code of the licensed program,
subject to certain notice publication requirements. (GPL § 1.) SCO
complied with all of these requirements in all of its Linux
distributions. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 9; (Ex. B); Hughes Dep. (5/11/04) at 67
(Ex. C); Sontag Dep (5/12/04) at 211 (Ex. D).)
8. Section 2 of the GPL states that if a licensee modifies the licensed
work, the modified work must be licensed at no charge. (GPL § 2.) SCO
never modified any of IBM's contributions to Linux. (Sontag Decl. (Ex.
E) ¶ 31.) In contrast to Section 2 (which authorizes the copying of
modified works), Section 1 (which authorizes verbatim copying) does not
require no-charge licensing. (GPL §§ 1-2.)
9. Section 3 of the GPL authorizes the general public to copy and
distribute verbatim copies of the licensed program in object code or
executable form, subject to the condition that it be accompanied by the
source code or by an offer to provide the source code. (GPL § 3.) SCO
complied with these conditions in all of its Linux distributions.
(Hughes Decl. ¶ 9; Hughes Dep. (5/11/04) at 67; Sontag Dep. at 211.)
10. Nothing in the GPL prohibits the licensing of other intellectual
property that may pertain to the Program. In fact, Section 7 of the GPL
contemplates that "the Program" may implicate other intellectual
property rights. (GPL § 7.)
11. Section 3 of the GPL does not prohibit a licensee from charging
"royalty or licensing fees" on the licensed works. Section 3 does not
mention fees or royalties. (GPL § 3.)
12. Section 3 of the GPL requires that a party who distributes copies
of works subject to the GPL in executable form, provide the customer
"with the complete corresponding machine-
7
readable source code" on a "medium customarily used for software
interchange" or with an offer to provide the code at cost. (GPL § 3.)
13. Section 4 of the GPL states that a licensee's use of licensed
material beyond the scope of the License will "automatically terminate"
the licensee's rights under the License, but it does not say when such
a termination becomes effective, and it provides no mechanism by which
the licensee is put on notice of an alleged unauthorized use of the
licensed material. (GPL § 4.)
14. GPL Section 6 states that each time a licensee redistributes "the
Program (or any work based on the Program), the recipient automatically
receives a license from the original licensor to copy, distribute or
modify the Program subject to these terms and conditions. [The
licensee] may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients'
exercise of the rights granted herein." (GPL § 6.)
II. SCO'S CONDUCT WITH RESPECT TO THE GPL
15. SCO copied and distributed the Linux kernel and other related Linux
software for years prior to 2003, when SCO discovered that IBM and
others had misappropriated SCO's copyrighted UNIX code by contributing
it to Linux without SCO's approval. On May 14, 2003, SCO suspended all
sales and marketing of its entire Linux product line. (Hughes Decl. ¶
3; Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at 179, 186 (Ex. F); Hughes Dep. (5/11/04) at
16, 37, 48, 51.)
16. In light of the legal issues arising from the misappropriation, SCO
began offering its Intellectual Property License for UNIX (the "UNIX
License") for sale beginning on August 5, 2003. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 6.) The
UNIX License is a license of SCO's UNIX software, not a license or
sublicense of Linux or of any IBM-copyrighted work. (Hughes Dep.
(3/2/06) at 181-82; Sontag Decl. ¶ 30.)
8
17. SCO has never attempted to license or sublicense Linux or any IBM
copyrighted work, or any other GPL-licensed source code. (Sontag Decl.
¶ 30.) SCO offered its UNIX License, beginning in August 2003, because
SCO believes IBM had misappropriated SCO's proprietary material and
contributed that material into Linux. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 6.)
18. SCO has not sought to collect royalties or licensing fees for any
of IBM's allegedly copyrighted works. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 9; Sontag Decl. ¶
30.)
19. SCO has not attempted to sell a UNIX License to anyone who received
a Linux distribution from SCO. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 8.)
20. SCO distributed SCO Linux Server 4.0 for less than six months, from
November 19, 2002, until May 14, 2003. (Hughes Decl. ¶¶ 2-3; Hughes
Dep. (3/2/06) at 186; Hughes Dep. (5/11/04) at 16, 37, 57.) Once SCO
arrived at the conclusion that Linux was tainted with misappropriated
material, SCO suspended its sales of Linux products pending
clarification of the intellectual property issues. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 3;
Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at 179, 186; Sontag Dep. (5/12/04) (Ex. E) at
208-09.) After May 14, 2003, SCO entered into no further obligations to
sell SCO Linux Server 4.0 or any other Linux product. (Hughes Decl. ¶
3; Hughes Dep. (5/11/04) at 53.) SCO made limited post-May 14 sales to
customers in consideration of its obligations to its customers. (Hughes
Decl. ¶¶ 3-5; Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at 188-89; Hughes Dep. (5/11/04) at
72-73; Sontag Decl. ¶¶ 12-14; Sontag Dep. (5/12/04) at 221-23.) The
last sale of Linux Server 4.0 was on May 31, 2004. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 4;
Hughes Dep. (11/1/05) at 60 (Ex. G).) All of SCO's Linux distributions
(both prior to and after May 2003) were made under the GPL, with no
charge of any nature for royalties or licensing fees. (Hughes Decl. ¶
9.)
21. In accordance with its obligations, SCO continued to provide its
Linux customers with internet access to files containing Linux source
code and enhancements thereto. SCO
9
stored these files on its computers, which its customers could access
via the internet. In accordance with its agreement with the UnitedLinux
consortium, SCO provided customers who purchased SCO Linux Server 4.0
with a password to enter at a log-in screen on SCO's download site so
that only they would have access. (Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at 195; Hughes
Dep. (11/1/05) at 37-38; Sontag Decl. ¶¶ 17-19.)
22. SCO permitted access to Linux source code files via its website
after August 5, 2003, because of SCO's pre-existing contractual
obligations with its customers and with the UnitedLinux consortium.
(Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at 190-91, 194; Sontag Decl. ¶ 17-19.) SCO
complied by making the source code available to its customers on its
website. SCO removed all Linux-related code from its website promptly
after expiration of the last of its contractual commitments, on
December 31, 2004. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 11; Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at 191,
194; Hughes Dep. (11/1/05) at 37-38, 121; Sontag Decl. ¶ 17.)
23. SCO suspended its Linux distribution activities in May 2003 (Hughes
Decl. ¶ 3; Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at 186,), months before it began
selling the UNIX License in August of 2003. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 6.) This
suspension was also months before IBM registered any of the sixteen
alleged copyrights. (IBM Mem. in Supp. of IBM's Mot. for Partial Summ.
J. on Its Eighth Counterclaim (8/16/04) ¶ 8.)
24. Prior to the filing of its Counterclaim on August 6, 2003, IBM
never provided SCO with any notice of its claim that SCO's rights under
the GPL had terminated or that SCO was infringing its copyrights.
(Hughes Decl. ¶ 12.)
25. SCO never repudiated the GPL, and it always endeavored to comply
with its GPL obligations. (Hughes Decl. ¶ 9; Hughes Dep. (3/2/06) at
200-01; Sontag Dep. (5/12/04) at 211.)
10
LEGAL STANDARD
Summary judgment should be granted if "the pleadings, depositions,
answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the
affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any
material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a
matter of law." Carpenter v. Boeing, 456 F.3d 1183, 1192 (10th Cir.
2006) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)). An "issue of material fact is
genuine only if the nonmovant presents facts such that a reasonable
jury could find in favor of the nonmovant." Id (quoting
Lawmaster v. Ward, 125 F.3d 1341, 1347 (10th Cir.1997)).
ARGUMENT
Summary judgment is appropriate on IBM's Sixth Counterclaim, unless IBM
demonstrates a genuine issue of material fact as to the existence of a
breach of the GPL. See Dreiling v. Peugeot Motors of Am., Inc.,
850 F.2d 1373, 1378 (10th Cir. 1988). In its Seventh Counterclaim, IBM
alleges that it relied on SCO's promise not to breach the GPL.
Accordingly, in order to survive summary judgment on this counterclaim,
IBM must demonstrate an issue of fact as to the existence of a breach
of the GPL. See Tolboe Constr. Co. v. Staker Paving &
Const. Co., 682 P.2d 843, 845-46 (Utah 1984) (addressing elements
of a promissory estoppel claim under Utah state law). Restatement of
Contracts § 90 (allowing remedy for "breach" of promise "as justice
requires").
1
11
In order to prevail on its Eighth Counterclaim, IBM bears the burden of
proving that SCO violated the Copyright Act. See Allegro
Corp. v. Only New Age Music, Inc., No. Civ. 01-790-HU, 2003 WL
23571745, at *10 (D. Or. Jan. 23, 2003) (Ex. 1); Indep. Serv. Orgs.
Antitrust Litig., 964 F. Supp. 1469, 1472 (D. Kan. 1997). This
requires proof that SCO's actions were unauthorized. See
Gates Rubber Co. v. Bando Chem. Indus., Ltd., 9 F.3d 823, 832
(10th Cir. 1993) ("Once the plaintiff has shown that it holds a valid
copyright, it must next prove that the defendant unlawfully
appropriated protected portions of the copyrighted work.");
Foresight Res. Corp. v. Pfortmiller, 719 F. Supp. 1006, 1011 (D.
Kan. 1989) ("In general, a prima facie case of copyright infringement
consists of proof that the plaintiff owns a valid copyright and the
defendant has engaged in unauthorized copying."). IBM bears the burden
of proving that SCO violated the GPL. See Allegro, 2003
WL 23571745, at *10 ("To prevail on their counterclaim of copyright
infringement under a license, defendants must prove 1) ownership of
copyright, and 2) `copying' of protectible expression beyond the scope
of the license."); see also Graham v. James, 144 F.3d
229, 236 (2d Cir. 1998) (noting that "the copyright owner bears the
burden of proving that the defendant's copying was unauthorized under
the license"); Stenograph L.L.C. v. Bossard Assocs., Inc., 144
F.3d 96, 99 (D.C. Cir. 1998) (explaining copyright plaintiff must prove
defendant's copying of protected expression exceeded scope of "the
license possessed by the defendant").
12
I. SCO DID NOT BREACH THE GPL
IBM's Sixth and Seventh Counterclaims fail as a matter of law because
SCO did not breach the GPL.
2
First, where SCO has copied and re-distributed Linux, it has done so in
compliance with the requirements of the GPL. Second, nothing in the GPL
which by its very terms is limited to "copying, distribution and
modification" of Linux precludes SCO from issuing licenses to its UNIX
software.
A. Where SCO Has Copied, Distributed or Sublicensed Linux, It Has
Done So in Compliance With the GPL.
SCO's copying, distribution and sublicensing of Linux which activity
ended in May 2003 complied with the terms of the GPL. Section 1 of the
GPL allows licensees to "copy and distribute verbatim copies of the
[licensed] Program's source code as [the licensee] receive[s] it, in
any medium" without requiring the licensee to grant any rights to third
parties. The only conditions imposed on a licensee exercising the right
to distribute verbatim copies are that the licensee "publish an
appropriate copyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; keep intact
all the notices that refer to [the GPL] and to the absence of any
warranty; and give any other recipients of the [covered] Program a copy
of [the GPL] along with the [covered] Program." It is undisputed that
SCO complied with these requirements. SCO's distribution included 2
compact disks: one with SCO's proprietary material and one with
material from OpenLinux.
IBM has previously argued that SCO's efforts to license its UNIX
software which started in August 2003 somehow violated the GPL, and
thereby retroactively terminated SCO's right to copy, distribute and
sublicense Linux under the GPL, and retroactively turned SCO's
13
lawful activity under the GPL into acts of copyright infringement.
IBM's argument is meritless for a number of reasons.
First, as set forth below, SCO's actions in licensing UNIX are not
prohibited by the GPL.
Second, nothing in the GPL supports the concept of retroactive
termination. And the cases do not support IBM's argument either. The
copyright cases expressly discussing the issue have rejected the notion
of "retroactive" breach, termination and infringement. In MCA
Television, Ltd. v. Public Interest Corp., 171 F.3d 1265 (11th Cir.
1999), for example, the court explained:
The notion that MCA had the power retroactively to rescind the contract
makes a mockery of that contractual agreement and would put any
contracting party in PIC's position in terror of upsetting the licensor
in any way for fear of being declared in breach, having the
contracted-for licenses "retroactively revoked," and being sued both
for breach of contract and in copyright for statutory damages that can
far outweigh contractually negotiated licensing fees.
Id at 1274 n.8; see also Jacob Maxwell, Inc. v. Veeck,
110 F.3d 749, 753 (11th Cir. 1997) (holding that one party's breach
does not automatically rescind a contract simply because that breach
might give the other party the right to rescind); 3 Melvin B. Nimmer,
Nimmer on Copyright § 10.15[A] at 10-120 (2004) ("[T]he license
is terminated and the copyright proprietor may hold his former grantee
liable as an infringer for subsequent use of the work. Failing such
rescission . . . the grant continues in place . . . until such time as
the copyright owner exercises his entitlement to rescind.").
Third, Section 4 of the GPL provides that in the event of a licensee's
breach and termination, sublicenses previously granted by the licensee
remain in full force and effect. Since the GPL effectively ratifies
sublicenses granted prior to the alleged breach, IBM cannot complain
that the initial grant was unauthorized.
14
B. SCO's Licensing of UNIX Did Not Breach the GPL.
Nothing in the GPL prohibits SCO from licensing UNIX. Nothing in the
GPL warrants that Linux is beyond the reach of patents, copyrights or
other intellectual property. To the contrary, Section 7 of the GPL
expressly contemplates and warns of that possibility. Even if a license
to SCO's UNIX intellectual property were necessary to the use the of
Linux, nothing in the GPL prohibits SCO from offering such a license.
(SCO has not offered a UNIX license to anyone who received Linux from
SCO. There can be no argument that SCO has violated Section 6 of the
GPL by imposing further restrictions on any party to who received Linux
from SCO.)
II. SCO HAS NOT INFRINGED IBM'S COPYRIGHTS
IBM's Eighth Counterclaim for copyright infringement is based on the
argument that SCO some how breached the GPL in August 2003, and that
this rendered SCO's prior redistribution of Linux retroactively
unlawful. IBM's claim fails for at least three reasons. First, SCO's
redistribution of Linux is authorized by the GPL. Second, nothing in
the GPL supports IBM's claim of breach and retroactive
termination/infringement. Third, under Tenth Circuit law, because Linux
is an infringing derivative work of SCO's UNIX System V, IBM cannot
assert rights in Linux against SCO.
A. The GPL Authorized SCO's Re-Distributions of Linux.
IBM's copyright infringement claim is based on SCO re-distribution of
Linux. The GPL grants the public at large "freedom to distribute
copies" of the software licensed by it and to "charge for this service
if [the licensee] wish[es]." (GPL Preamble ¶ 2.) Section 1 of the GPL
authorizes the public to "copy and distribute verbatim copies" of
source code licensed thereunder, subject only to certain notice
publication requirements. (GPL § 1.) SCO complied with these
requirements, and thus was entitled to copy any material IBM licensed
under the GPL.
15
Section 1 also expressly permits the charging of fees for transfer of
the software and for warranty protection. There is nothing in the GPL
to indicate that other types of fees are prohibited. Such a reading of
the GPL would be inappropriate and even "dangerous" in the construction
of contracts and statutes. Ford v. United States, 273 U.S. 593,
612 (1927); Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Okla. v. Nat'l Indian Gaming
Comm'n, 327 F.3d 1019, 1034-35 & n.
26
(10th Cir. 2003). In addition, Section 2(b), which prohibits licensing
fees where the licensee distributes modified works, shows that the
drafters knew how to write a fee prohibition where such was intended.
Section 3 authorizes a party to copy and distribute the licensed works
verbatim in object code or executable form under the terms of Section
1, as long as the party accompanies it with the source code or with an
offer to provide the source code. SCO has complied fully with this
condition. IBM does not dispute the fact that the material it allegedly
owned was copied and distributed verbatim. Section 3 allows a licensee
to comply by "offering access to copy from a designated place" (such as
an internet site). The undisputed evidence shows that SCO offered
customers access to Linux source code files that contain verbatim
copies of IBM's allegedly copyrighted material via SCO's website.
SCO complied with all of the GPL's requirements and therefore was
authorized to distribute all of the works allegedly copyrighted by IBM
that IBM contributed to Linux.
B. Nothing in the GPL Supports IBM's Claim Of Breach and
Retroactive Termination.
As noted above, IBM's claim that SCO somehow breached the GPL by
licensing UNIX finds no support in the GPL. Nothing in the GPL
prohibits SCO from licensing its intellectual property. Even if there
were a breach, nothing in the GPL supports the concept of retroactive
termination. To the contrary, Section 4 of the GPL provides that in the
event of a licensee's
16
breach and termination, sublicenses previously granted by that licensee
remain in full force and effect. Since the GPL effectively ratifies
sublicenses granted prior to the alleged breach, IBM cannot complain
that the initial grant was unauthorized. The premise of IBM's copyright
infringement claim breach of the GPL and retroactive termination fail
as a matter of law.
C. IBM's Proposed Interpretation of the GPL Would Impermissibly
Interfere with Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights and Would
Raise Serious Antitrust Concerns.
1. The GPL Should Not Be Read to Interfere with SCO's Right to Enforce
Its Own Intellectual Property Rights.
The above arguments easily suffice to resolve the pending motions, but
there are additional reasons why IBM's position must be rejected.
Nothing in the GPL expressly forbids a party from licensing its own
software or entering into settlements to resolve potential infringement
of such rights. Any construction of the GPL to do so should be rejected
as inconsistent with the public policy in favor of protecting
intellectual property, San Juan New Materials High Tech, Inc. v.
Int'l Trade Comm'n, 161 F.3d 1347, 1363 (Fed. Cir. 1998);
Concrete Mach. Co., Inc. v. Classic Lawn Ornaments, Inc., 843 F.2d
600, 612 (1st Cir. 1988), as well as the public policy favoring and
encouraging settlements, Grady v. de Ville Motor Hotel, 415 F.2d
449, 451 (10th Cir. 1969); Grundberg v. Upjohn Co., 140 F.R.D.
459, 468 (D. Utah 1991); see also Justine Realty Co. v. Am. Nat'l
Can Co., 976 F.2d 385, 391 (8th Cir. 1992).
2. The GPL Should Not Be Read to Allow a Competitor to Regulate What
May Be Charged for an Intellectual Property License.
In previously arguing that SCO breached the GPL by collecting
"royalties and licensing fees in excess the fees permitted by the GPL,"
IBM has sought in essence an interpretation for the GPL fixes limits on
the amounts that may be charged for unmodified works, even though the
parties to the agreement are competitors. Agreements between
competitors that fix a maximum
17
price that may be charged for products are per se illegal under
antitrust law. NYNEX Corp. v. Discon, Inc., 525 U.S. 128, 133
(1998); United States v. Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., 310 U.S. 150,
218 (1940).
In addition to its inapplicability shown above, Section 2 (the only GPL
provision requiring licensing "at no charge") is illegal and
unenforceable. The general counsel for the Open Source Initiative
acknowledges in his recent treatise: "There is also a problem that may
prevent enforcement of the GPL's "at no charge" provision. It may be an
illegal restraint of trade in some countries. Ordinarily, companies are
allowed to set their own prices, and it is improper for a GPL licensor
to restrain that any way." L. Rosen, Open Source Licensing 132 (2004),
available at
http://www.phptr.com/ content/ images/ 0131487876/ samplechapter/
0131487876_ch06.pdf.
It is a "well settled principle that where a contract is susceptible of
two interpretations, preference will be given to the interpretation
which does not violate the law." Bd. of Dirs. and Officers, Forbes
Fed. Credit Union v. Nat'l Credit Union Admin., 477 F.2d 777, 784
(10th Cir. 1973); accord NLRB v. Local 32B-32J Serv. Employees Int'l
Union, 353 F.3d 197, 202 (2d Cir. 2003); Guthart v. White,
263 F.3d 1099, 1104 (9th Cir. 2001). Accordingly, the Court should not
construe the GPL as IBM suggests.
18
CONCLUSION
SCO respectfully submits, for the reasons set forth above, that the
Court should grant SCO's motion for partial summary judgment and
dismiss the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Counterclaims.
/s/ Brent O. Hatch
HATCH, JAMES & DODGE, P.C.
Brent O. Hatch
Mark F. James
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
Robert Silver (admitted pro hac vice)
Stephen N. Zack (admitted pro hac vice)
Stuart H. Singer (admitted pro hac vice)
Edward Normand (admitted pro hac vice)
Attorneys for The SCO Group, Inc.
19
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Plaintiff, The SCO Group, Inc. hereby certifies that a true and correct
copy of the foregoing SCO's Memorandum in Support of the foregoing
SCO's Motion for Summary Judgment on IBM's Sixth, Seventh and Eighth
Counterclaims was served on defendant International Business Machines
Corporation on the 25th day of September, 2006, by CM/ECF to the
following:
David Marriott, Esq.
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
[address]
Donald J. Rosenberg, Esq.
[address]
Todd Shaughnessy, Esq.
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
[address]
/s/ Brent O. Hatch
20
1
Summary judgment is also appropriate on the Sixth and Seventh
Counterclaims because IBM has not incurred any compensable harm as a
result of SCO's alleged conduct. In this regard, SCO incorporates by
reference Part III of its Memorandum in Support of Its Motion for
Summary Judgment on IBM's Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Counterclaims
(9/25/06). J.R. Kearl, IBM's expert on alleged counterclaim damages,
does not separately address counts Six and Seven in his analysis.
(Kearl Report, 5/19/06, at 3 note 1, attached to above-cited
memorandum.) It is inconceivable that SCO's alleged conduct (the
leaving of Linux code on SCO's website after SCO's right to distribute
Linux was purportedly terminated) could have caused IBM the slightest
harm, particularly since Linux is available for free download on many
non-SCO websites.
2
As an initial matter, it is not at all clear that IBM has standing or
the authority to sue SCO for any alleged violation of the GPL. By
addressing IBM's arguments, SCO does not concede that IBM has any such
standing or authority.
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