Intel and IBM participating in fund to protect Linux users

Open Source Development Labs, a non-profit industry consortium based in Beaverton, Ore. which is creating the fund, said it has so far received pledges of $3 million, and hopes to raise $10 million, according to the paper.

Neither Intel nor IBM would specify the size of their contributions, it said.

Officials from the companies and fund did not immediately return calls for comment.

Lindon, Utah-based SCO is suing IBM and trying to extract royalties from other Linux users, claiming the operating system is based on Unix intellectual property that it owns.

SCO said in December it sent letters to thousands of Unix license holders requiring them to certify that they are not illegally using Unix software in their use of Linux.