Account

Sign in to access your account and subscription

<i>SCO v. IBM</i>: Does the Copyright Act Pre-empt The GPL?

Open-source software is a key e-commerce building block. For example, Apache, the world's most popular Web-server software, is open source. A lawsuit filed this year threatens not only the Linux operating system, but also the open-source license under which it is made available. This article addresses one of the legal theories attacking that license.

18 minute read November 01, 2003 at 09:27 AM
By
Thomas C. Carey
<i>SCO v. IBM</i>: Does the Copyright Act Pre-empt The GPL?

Open-source software is a key e-commerce building block. For example, Apache, the world's most popular Web-server software, is open source. A lawsuit filed this year threatens not only the Linux operating system, but also the open-source license under which it is made available.

This premium content is locked for LawJournalNewsletters subscribers only

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN LawJournalNewsletters

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

Already have an account? Sign In Now

For enterprise-wide or corporate access, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or call 1-877-256-2473.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2026 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Continue Reading

Adverse Possessor Provided Insufficient Evidence to Support TackingTown’s Installation of Guardrails Did Not Constitute a TakingMortgagee Entitled to Deficiency JudgmentLandowner Adequately Alleged Trespass During Renovation

August 13, 2026

Agentic AI introduces risks that are novel and complex, but the most effective response is a familiar one. Zero Trust answers the problem of when an AI agent misfires on its own by constraining what an agent can do rather than betting on how it will behave.

August 01, 2026