Brown slanders Linus verbally to someone who then writes what Brown said.

At what point does the slander turn into libel.

I though libel only happens when the person writes something about someone else. If they speak it then someone else reports it it is still slander.

I think there is even more material at Groklaw put there a few hours ago. Also Brown did a lengthy interview with LinuxInsider where he repeats his claims in regard to Linux. There is extensive also misquoting of Tanenbaum and others.

Cheers - Doug

[link|http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20040523172344599|http://www.groklaw.n...20040523172344599]


In this particular example, PJ is quoting from an interview (IIRC) that Brown gave.

Also here is a news item on this 'Brown' topic. It accentuates the type of harm Brown & his ilk can do ...

[link|http://news.com.com/2102-7344_3-5216651.html?tag=st.util.print|http://news.com.com/...tag=st.util.print]

EXTRACT >>>>
Is Torvalds really the father of Linux?

By Stephen Shankland
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

It's hard to imagine that Linus Torvalds could have launched Linux without directly using earlier operating system work, according to a report that has become controversial even before its scheduled publication Thursday.
The 92-page report, from a 14-person Washington, D.C., think tank called the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution, suggests more Linux credit should go to Minix. A Unix clone, Minix was designed by Andrew Tanenbaum to help him teach operating systems and software at Vrije University in Amsterdam. Torvalds used Minix before he embarked on Linux development in 1991.

In an e-mail interview, Torvalds strongly disputed the study's conclusions. And Tanenbaum himself has harshly criticized the study.

A new report suggests more credit for creating the Linux operating system should go to Unix clone Minix, rather than to Linus Torvalds.
Bottom line:
The study comes not long after several others unflattering to Linux and in the midst of a legal attack on Linux by the SCO Group.
<<<<

This kind of controvesy no matter what the truth is, just isn't good.

Doug