Larry Augustin, the Chairman of VA Software, was adamant: “It is a lawsuit filled with sound and fury and signifying nothing,” he proclaimed. “It doesn’t impact end users of Linux, it is just a specific contract dispute between SCO and IBM.”

“IBM is perfectly capable of taking care of themselves,” Augustin continued. “It’s not about IP, it’s about a specific contract dispute.”

Michael Evans, Red Hat’s VP Channel Sales & Development, agreed. “The industry will get beyond this,” he said, “Just as it’s gotten beyond thing before.”

And Jon ‘maddog’ Hall was even more forthright, declaring: “Linux is an operating system of the world, and not necessarily subject to the laws of any one particular country.