A long-running legal dispute over claims tied to Linux, IBM, Red Hat and Project Monterey UNIX code appears to be nearing its end. Tom’s Hardware, citing The Register, reports that the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejected Xinuos’ continued claims earlier this month. The dispute centers on Xinuos’ allegation that IBM and Red Hat improperly contributed jointly developed Project Monterey UNIX code to Linux. Tom’s Hardware describes the matter as part of a decades-long fight over Linux ownership claims, with roots in events stretching back to the late 1990s and the shadow of litigation that emerged in 2003. The appellate rejection is not necessarily the final procedural move. Tom’s Hardware reports that Xinuos intends to seek a full-bench rehearing. But the same report says IBM’s legal representatives put the odds of such hearings being granted at 0.03%, making the next step a long shot rather than a practical reset of the case. For IBM and Red Hat, Tom’s Hardware frames the ruling as likely easing legal uncertainty tied to their use of Project Monterey UNIX code in Linux. The publication says the Second Circuit affirmed that the case was time-barred and characterizes Xinuos’ legal position as largely spent. The broader open-source relevance is straightforward: Linux is infrastructure, not just software. It underpins servers, cloud systems, embedded devices and developer workflows. A revived ownership or licensing dispute would have introduced uncertainty for companies that build on or contribute to open-source projects. Tom’s Hardware frames the outcome as a relief for IBM, Red Hat and the open-source community, while noting that Xinuos’ success could have created licensing uncertainty for many Linux devices. That broader consequence remains a hypothetical in the provided reporting, but the court action itself narrows the path for Xinuos’ claims. Who benefits: Tom’s Hardware says IBM, Red Hat, the open-source world and companies contributing code to open-source projects can probably rest easier after the reported appellate rejection. Who's exposed: Xinuos is exposed because its remaining path reportedly depends on a full-bench rehearing that Tom’s Hardware says is rarely granted. The reported ruling materially weakens Xinuos’ position in seeking damages, royalties or licensing fees from IBM and Red Hat.