Congress key factor for Linux

[sujan]

One way or another, rights to the core coding behind the Linux operating system (OS) ultimately will be decided by several federal court lawsuits stemming from SCO Group's claims on the popular "open source," or freely distributed software.
But the longer term battle for Linux, an offshoot of the Unix OS that Lindon-based SCO claims to own outright, could be decided by Congress, if authors of the fledgling Open Source and Industry Alliance have their way.
Unveiled this week at San Francisco's LinuxWorld conference, the group primarily will serve as a lobbying group to urge lawmakers to adopt Linux for use in government computer systems.
Novell spokesman Matt Asey confirmed Friday that his Provo-based company is a member of the alliance.
"We were the first, or at least one of the first to commit to the group," Asey said. "The OSIA is looking to us to help pull in some of the laggards, like IBM and Hewlett Packard."

http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08092003/business/82585....