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LINDON, Utah (AP) -- The SCO Group, which previously had accused IBM of allowing Unix code to get into Linux, has terminated a contract with IBM subsidiary Sequent Computer Systems on the same ground.
"As a result, IBM no longer has the right to use or license the Sequent Unix product known as "Dynix/ptx," SCO said in a prepared statement Wednesday. "Customers may not acquire a license in Dynix/ptx from today's date forward."
SCO said in June that it had terminated IBM's right to use or distribute any software product based on Unix System V source code. IBM responded by saying SCO did not have the right to terminate its licensing agreements. SCO has sued IBM, and IBM has responded with a countersuit over the Unix/Linux issue.
SCO said Wednesday that its contract with Sequent had allowed Sequent to develop derivative works and modifications of System V software "provided the resulting materials were treated as part of the original (System V) software."
Instead, Sequent-IBM contributed about 148 files of direct Sequent Unix code to the Linux 2.4 and 2.5 kernels, containing 168,276 lines of code, and significant Unix-based development methods, SCO said.
SCO spokesman Blake Stowell denied that the Sequent license termination was deliberately planned as a response to the widening litigation.
"This was something we notified them of on June 16," he said. "Between then and Aug. 12, they took no action to correct" the purported inclusion of Unix code in Linux.
IBM spokeswoman Trink Gaurino dismissed SCO's latest action as grandstanding aimed at keeping its allegations in the public eye as both sides grind slowly toward trial.
"SCO has not shown us any evidence that we violated our agreements with them," Gaurino said.
SCO stock closed Wednesday at $10.13 on the Nasdaq Stock Market, up 41 cents. IBM ended the day at $81.20, down 31 cents.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
