"A study challenging the origins of Linux states that the open-source software frequently is taken or adapted from material owned by other companies and individuals. It also directly questions Linus Torvalds' claim to be the inventor of Linux. The information is contained in a book by Kenneth Brown, president the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution. Portions of the book will be released later this week," writes Jay Wrolstad of www.enterprise-linux-it.com.
"Among the conclusions is that there is a high probability that Linux is a derivative work, based on previous operating systems -- including, but not limited to, Unix and Minux," [Gregory Fossedal, a Tocqueville senior fellow] told NewsFactor.
Excerpts from Brown's book will be published at www.adti.net beginning on Thursday.
Comment: "Minux" should be Minix, obviously....
Ken Brown also wrote Patents and the Penguin.
