Flush from the furore around Microsoft’s iLoo problems, another technology company is having real reputation problems. But in this case these problems could be terminal.
SCO (the company formerly known as Caldera) has recently been doing it’s very best to alienate itself from every software vendor bar Microsoft.
First off, the company initiated a lawsuit against IBM. Now they are threatening to sue anyone selling, developing or using Linux, the popular open-source operating system. 
Whatever the merits of SCO’s case, and many observers think it’s dubious to say the least, one thing is clear. SCO’s unilateral action against the industry is seriously damaging their reputation.
Based on how SCO is handling this issue, it would appear that are listening to their legal team’s advice and not taking the counsel of their Public Relations folks.
Even if SCO were to win these cases, do they think it will help their future customer acquisition plans?
The software industry has a problem with any corporation that is perceived to be acting in a heavy handed manner, and SCO, by threatening the world at large is being as heavy handed as possible.
Regardless of the merits of their case, from a PR perspective they are harming no one but themselves.
I’ll leave the last words to Dan Gillmor…. “It’s amazing to watch the speed with which SCO is turning itself into the most hated company in the technology business. The company’s claims that its “proprietary” property has been stolen are, on their face, questionable. But the way SCO is now threatening all Linux users goes far beyond any reasonable approach to the supposed problem.” 
RELATED LINKS: Computerworld | Information Week | The Register | Linux Journal
Murphy's Law 