[Tech] Start-up certifica lo status 'copyright free' del kernel Linux

La società, Open Source Risk Management (OSRM), creata dall'avvocato e venture capitalist Daniel Egger e partecipata anche da Pamela Jones di Grocklaw, offre una assicurazione sul kernel GNU/Linux 2.4 e 2.6:

"After a rigorous six-month process of examining the individual software files in the Linux kernel and tracing their origins, OSRM found no copyright infringement in kernel versions 2.4 and 2.6," Egger, OSRM's chairman, said in an interview. He was referring to the two most commonly used versions of the Linux operating system.



Roughly 1,500 corporate Linux users have received letters threatening legal action for using software that SCO says infringes on its intellectual property.



The battle over Linux, the most popular form of open-source software, has raised questions about whom to hold responsible for the underlying code created through a combination of public collaboration and private initiative.



Linux marks a distinct break with the practice of Microsoft and other more traditional software developers who keep their code secret.



The New York company's business model combines intellectual property technical research with a legal defense strategy. It is backed up with a form of product liability insurance for open source users.



OSRM is also looking beyond the legal battles with SCO to future intellectual property battles that may arise.



In the next two months, OSRM plans to begin offering insurance to corporate customers. It will charge standard liability insurance rates of around 3 percent of the cost of the potential liability, or $30,000 for $1 million worth of coverage.

Fonte: Yahoo! Finance.