Uh Oh.

Did you see this?

“We’re finding…cases where there is line-by-line code in the Linux kernel that is matching up to our UnixWare code,” McBride said in an interview. In addition, he said, “We’re finding code that looks likes it’s been obfuscated to make it look like it wasn’t UnixWare code–but it was.”

Could this be true?

The claim could cause consternation in the open-source community, which develops Linux and countless other projects through a collaborative, sharing approach that contrasts strongly with the proprietary methods of companies such as Microsoft. The open-source movement prides itself on its programmers’ independent creativity and on the fact that its methods have produced software that rivals programs created by closed efforts at the most powerful computing companies.

Despite the successes of the cooperative movement, it still must convince companies that its methods are legally, technologically and culturally sound.

Let’s hope it’s not true.

SCO’s claims “could definitely sensitize the open-source community in general,” said Illuminata analyst Jonathan Eunice, “but before it creates any kind of vastly disruptive effect, (SCO is) going to have to not only make a claim, they’re going to have to prove a claim.”

Yeah, prove it!