Open letter by CEO Darl McBride gives view on key issue of US copyright law versus GNU GPL; warns that current legal controversies will rage for at least another 18 months, until original case against IBM goes to trial. [eWeek]

Some open source community members claim SCO violated GNU GPL by copying source code from Linux kernel into SCO Unix Linux Kernel Personality feature without releasing changes publicly or showing attribution copyright notice. [eWeek]

Hewlett-Packard joins fray over whether Linux contains unlawful Unix code. Martin Fink, an HP vice president, said HP would indemnify its customers against any legal liability from using Linux. [eWeek]

Hewlett-Packard takes up SCO challenge to Linux users with indemnification against SCO lawsuits; move not as bold as it looks: HP thinks legal risks are so small, it's willing to assume them to make customers feel more secure. [eWeek]

Many Linux customers have no intention of paying SCO for a UnixWare license to indemnify them from legal liability for using the Linux operating system. [eWeek]

After SCO announcement that BayStar Capital invested $50 million in SCO, questions are raised on Microsoft role. BayStar leads, creates, participates in PIPE investments, many with funds from other firms, such as Microsoft. [eWeek]

Firm, which on Monday announced it was licensing Unix source code and patents from SCO, remains tight-lipped on its reasons for the move; spokesman says no one available to discuss matter further at this time. [eWeek]

Crusade by SCO to protect Unix intellectual property took unexpected turn when Microsoft Corp. said it was licensing Unix source code and patent from SCO. SCO approached Microsoft a few months before with IP claim. [eWeek]

Some open-source community members thought they had a smoking gun against SCO and claims to own intellectual property rights to Unix OS, but Novell on Thursday poured cold water on that. [eWeek]

SCO again reiterated it is sole rightful owner of Unix System V source code, all related copyrights. Copyright transfer issue is clarified in Amendment 2 to asset purchase agreement between SCO and Novell, October 1996. [eWeek]