SCO broadens Linux lawsuits

Reuters reports that the SCO Group is making good on its threat to target more corporates in its far-reaching Linux legal battle. SCO says it plans to sue Daimler Chrysler AG, which uses the software.

In a related case pitting SCO against IBM, a Utah judge issued a ruling calling on IBM to divulge all contributions it has made to Linux software.

SCO accuses IBM of infringing its technology by contributing key portions of Unix software to develop Linux. It claims that Linux, a software operating system that users can copy and modify freely, is based on its Unix software. It is trying to extract royalties from Linux users - both software developers such as IBM and deep-pocketed corporate customers.

SCO CEO Darl McBride said his company also planned to sue companies outside the US but would not identify potential targets.

AFP reports that China, the world`s biggest maker of cellphones, is expected to export 100 million handsets this year. This will mark a 5% increase over last year`s exports.

Scientific-Atlanta says it is planning to develop television set-top boxes with high-performance video games capabilities, which could compete with game consoles such as Nintendo`s GameCube and Sony`s PlayStation 2.

Reuters quotes Scientific-Atlanta CEO James McDonald as saying developers are already building games for its Explorer series of set-top boxes. But he gave no timetable for when such a device might be available.

"We have a partner we are working with who has 250 engineers in Europe writing software for the Explorer platform for games," McDonald said.

AP reports that Dell`s new Inspiron XPS laptop aims at gamers, sacrificing weight and size in favour of impressive components.

The so-called desktop replacement for gamers is big by modern laptop standards, but features a 3.4GHz desktop version of the Pentium 4 processor, a gigabyte of fast memory, 60GB hard drive and ATI`s new 128MB Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics chip. At $3 279, the laptop is aimed only at serious gamers.