SCO Group Registers Unix Copyright

SCO Group Inc. said it registered a copyright for its Unix software to strengthen its lawsuit against IBM Corp.

In the suit, Lindon, Utah-based SCO claims its code is embedded in versions of the free Linux operating system that IBM distributed to its customers.

SCO also said that beginning in a few weeks, it would offer licenses to companies that are using those versions.

Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM, the world’s largest computer company, has disputed SCO’s claims, saying that it has not shown it any code contributed by IBM to Linux -- the open-source software that can be copied and modified freely -- that violates SCO copyright.

SCO shares closed up $1.37, or 11%, at $13.32 on Nasdaq.

IBM was off $1.22, or 1.5%, at $82.50 on the New York Stock Exchange.