"Three years ago, it had to pay US$90,000 because 8 percent of its Microsoft software was "noncompliant," or pirated. Microsoft subsequently ran a press release and an ad campaign around Ernie Ball's infringement. Infuriated by how the company was treated, Ernie Ball executives decided to clean house." they are moving to Linux, but is linux going to stay free forever? especially considering all [sco vs. everyone] the lawsuits [open group vs. apple] and issues [gpl vs. sco] going on.