Don't fear SCO lawsuits, UK firms advised

The recent lawsuits launched by software maker The SCO Group accusing US Linux end users of breaching its Unix copyrights should not induce UK firms to buy its licences, industry analysts have advised.

Customers fearing similar legal action should not be railroaded into buying licences from the firm but must take sensible precautions, said Phil Dawson, infrastructure services programme director at Meta Group.

"UK customers should get some form of indemnity in place, then keep informed of the ongoing legal cases," he said.

"SCO seems to be targeting high-profile companies with deep pockets. But that doesn't guarantee it won't look at UK firms."

However, while UK firms using Linux may escape SCO's ire, they must still expect a drawn-out battle.

"We're advising our clients to sit tight; we think IBM will sort the problem out," said Phil Carnelly, software research director at Ovum.

"If SCO had a good case it would have produced it by now. But with venture capital backing, and appeals to go through, it could drag on for five to 10 years."

Dan Kusnetzky, vice president of system software research at analyst firm IDC, added: "In the short term The SCO Group will do its best to present an image that there is a groundswell of interest in companies paying for its intellectual property."

But he warned that SCO's legal pursuit of car parts firm AutoZone and car maker DaimlerChrysler are likely to alienate potential customers.

"By suing the largest customers in the world they risk encouraging customers to think of buying someone else's product," he said.