Kenneth Brown (author)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth P. Brown, Jr. is an American
lobbyist and author, and the former president of the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution
(AdTI), a think tank
based in Arlington, Virginia
.
He is best known for authoring reports critical of Linux
and open source
software, notably the book Samizdat
. While his intended audience were legislators, newspaper editors and talk show hosts, his reports and his book have been strongly criticized in technical circles for their numerous inaccuracies and intentional falsehoods. A number of technology journalists accused him of leading a smear campaign
against Linux
. The allegations in his articles have been denounced by its subjects, by neutral experts and even by Microsoft
, a funder of AdTI and the entity most likely to benefit from Brown's campaign.
, and oversees investment hedge fund.
Brown has a B.A. in English Literature from George Mason University
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lobbyist and author, and the former president of the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution
Alexis de Tocqueville Institution
The Alexis de Tocqueville Institution is a Washington, D.C.–based conservative think tank that produced reports and policy research....
(AdTI), a think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
based in Arlington, Virginia
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
.
He is best known for authoring reports critical of Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
and open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
software, notably the book Samizdat
Samizdat (book)
Samizdat: And Other Issues Regarding the 'Source' of Open Source Code is a book by Kenneth Brown, which was prereleased in May 2004 and was to be published later that year by the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution...
. While his intended audience were legislators, newspaper editors and talk show hosts, his reports and his book have been strongly criticized in technical circles for their numerous inaccuracies and intentional falsehoods. A number of technology journalists accused him of leading a smear campaign
Smear campaign
A smear campaign, smear tactic or simply smear is a metaphor for activity that can harm an individual or group's reputation by conflation with a stigmatized group...
against Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
. The allegations in his articles have been denounced by its subjects, by neutral experts and even by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, a funder of AdTI and the entity most likely to benefit from Brown's campaign.
Activities
As the AdTI's president, Brown oversaw the Institution's policy studies and foundation relationships. He is also Vice-President of the Emerging Markets Group, an overseas market investment and advisory firm. Kenneth Brown also serves on the Board of Directors of the Democratic Century FundDemocratic Century Fund
The Democratic Century Fund was created in 1998, to fund democratic development projects.It is managed by the Emerging Markets Group.-Board of Directors:*Daniel Mahony, Chairman, EMG Fund Management...
, and oversees investment hedge fund.
Brown has a B.A. in English Literature from George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
.
Articles
- “One Year Makes the Difference in Access Debate”, Multichannel News, May 1, 2000.
- “The Internet Privacy Debate”, International Journal of Communications and Law Policy, March 8, 2001.
- “Outsourcing and The Devaluation of Intellectual Property”, Darwinmag.com, (April 26, 2004)
- “Samizdat: And Other Issues Regarding the 'Source' of Open Source Code”, May 20, 2004.
External links
- Kenneth Brown, B.A. (biography, International Journal of Communications Law and Policy)
- Andrew TanenbaumAndrew S. TanenbaumAndrew Stuart "Andy" Tanenbaum is a professor of computer science at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He is best known as the author of MINIX, a free Unix-like operating system for teaching purposes, and for his computer science textbooks, regarded as standard texts in the...
, "Ken Brown's Motivation, Release 1.2", Linuxtoday, May 22, 2004. - Andrew Tanenbaum, "Some Notes on the 'Who Wrote Linux' Kerfuffle, Release 1.1", Linuxtoday, May 20, 2004.
- Andrew Tanenbaum, "Some Notes on the 'Who wrote Linux' Kerfuffle, Release 1.5", Original article by Andrew Tanenbaum, May 20, 2004.