Programmer and peer-to-peer pioneer Gene Kan has passed away.


The Story

Gnutella pioneer Gene Kan dies
By John Borland
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
July 8, 2002, 3:40 PM PT
Programmer and peer-to-peer pioneer Gene Kan has passed away.

Kan, 25, rose to prominence online as one of the most articulate spokesmen for the Gnutella file-swapping community at the height of the Internet's love affair with peer-to-peer software.

Kan died June 29. He was cremated Friday, according to friends. Details of his death were not released by his family.

A soft-spoken man with a talent for coining phrases that cut neatly through technical complexities, Kan fell into the limelight almost accidentally.

Shortly after the release of Gnutella by America Online employee Justin Frankel, Kan and several friends set up a portal site intended to serve as an information hub for Gnutella developers. Kan helped write an early version of Gnutella designed to work on the Unix operating system, and he and his partners wanted to help bring together fragmenting efforts to extend the original technology.

With interest in file swapping running high, the site drew journalists as well as developers, and Kan quickly became an unofficial ambassador between the non-technical world and peer-to-peer coders.

His own technical interests remained paramount, however. After finishing their own version of Gnutella, he and his partners developed a means of turning the technology's file-trading capabilities into a powerful new kind of search engine, dubbed InfraSearch. The idea was compelling enough to persuade former Netscape Communications executives Marc Andreessen and Mike Homer to invest in a start-up built around the technology.

InfraSearch later was acquired by Sun Microsystems as one of the software giant's first forays into peer-to-peer applications. The technology was added into Sun's own peer-to-peer project, dubbed Jxta (pronounced Jux-ta). Kan became one of the key members of Sun's small Jxta team.

"Gene contributed much to the industry, specifically in the peer-to-peer (P2P) space," Sun said in a statement Monday. "Gene brought new ideas to the organization and stretched our thinking. Gene was a trusted friend and colleague, and we will miss him greatly."

Kan graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1997, with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science.
In moments not dedicated to coding, Kan was an aficionado of fast cars and street racing. He was also working on several new projects, including a peer-to-peer content distribution system dubbed Gnougat and a new technology for streaming MP3s.

A memorial fund is being set up in Kan's name at UC Berkeley. Donations can be sent to the following address: In memory of Gene Kan; Manager, Gift Stewardship; College of Engineering; University of California, Berkeley; 201 McLaughlin Hall; Berkeley, Calif., 94720-1722.

Checks should be made out to "UC Regents" but clearly marked for the Gene Kan fund.

I am speechless, and anyone who knows me that is a rare occurance. Rest In Peace Gene, you will be missed..

As the owner of gnutella.com, I can tell you definitively that without Gene the world of P2P would be far worse off today. I spoke to him only ~45 days ago before I went in to this alternative world working on the DA Prints launch. One of the main things I anticipated after the launch was a trip to San Francisco. To run a few errands, to take a few meetings and to finally spend time with Gene Kan. I looked forward to picking his mind and getting to know him and it is my loss entirely that we could not spend this time.

To his family & those who knew him well: The world is so much better with people like Gene. Proactive in the things he believed, effective in his methods. What greater qualities? I am so sorry.

I am fairly new to the file sharing community but do understand the values behind it. I will miss Gene Kan because he understood that expression is not something to be bought. Music is only one form of expression but the door to complete freedom is opened when only one form of expression is freed from greed. Gene Kan understands freedom. May he Rest In Piece and may his family and friends be calmed by this tradjedy.

what did he die of?? pretty young to die is int it??

Thanks Gene. The cyber world is a better place because of you. Condolences to your family.

You were and still are a hero to me.

aww that is so sad!!! dang!!

Cool. Sounds like he's perfected the B2B (Bullet To Brain) protocol.

A genius, even in death.

Hey guess what? There must be a job opening at Sun now! I will be applying tomorrow.

I sure hope they still hire white people--

have some respect and tact, you pointless idiots.

man...you guys have no respect

Such a tragedy and at such a young age too...sincerest condolences to those he left behind

From http://apnews.excite.com/article/20020709/D7KLNCNG0.html

"On Tuesday, the 25-year-old Kan was mourned by colleagues after being found dead of what authorities said was an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Sue Turner of the San Mateo County medical examiner's office said Kan's body was found July 2 at his home in Belmont, about 20 miles south of San Francisco. Turner said that the death would likely be ruled a suicide."

what a horrible thing to happen but his legacy will carry on.

Well, I wouldn't be surprized if the bloke was popped by someone hired by the RIAA or other(s). Mob tactics seem to never miss their goal. Heck, Shell even did it once!! Who knows what answers time will bring?!! Until then, Rest in Peac Gene, in the knowledge that there are many ppl to carry on your work (more or less)

Posted at yahoo.com
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020710/wr_nm/people_kan_dc_4

29 or 25 which one is it?

I think the hole thing is a conspiracy. An educated man like Gene Kan, wont commit suicide all the sudden.. I mean common..This was all done by those corporate people.. to shock everyone else in the open-source community and to warn them.. God knows whos next!!!

all i can say is CONSPIRACY!!!! that and gene will be missed

I am stunned by reading some of your posts. The man is dead, and of a self inflicted would. Life is tough, even for the educated. To start talk of phoney conspiracy theories serves nothing but to diminish his memory in this community.

I, of course, didn't know the man. Yet I feel he had a good mind and made a strong mark in the electronic world. And I am sadened that he felt there was no other route in his depression.

Maybe more people in this, and other, online communities need to listen to each other more. It isn't bad to care when another person is having trouble. Yet we have created a world of cynics and sarcasm where the "community" element is truly lacking.

I do hope he rests in peace. I also hope that you remember this lesson when you are talking to others online.

ohh yeah...I meant "self inflicted wound."

he commited suicide???? doubt it.... i believe the RIAA and or the government has to do with this.... set up i believe.... i can talk like yoda, yes...

instead of making stupid jokes, why not appreciate what Gene did for the IT world.

my (and i'm sure many) thoughts are with Gene's family and the people that were his friends through out his short life.

I am curious as to why the "gnutella" people don't boot some of you a**holes off. F*ck censorship. People like you don't deserve a voice at all! Even if you don't like "G", that's no reason to be crass ya f*ckin hypocrites!

Gene had his sh*t together more than most of you combined!

List of suckheads:

vainity (I'm sure Sun would be happy to
hire you for your
qualifications: Janitor)
therightstuff

Terrible loss, whether accidental or not doesn't matter at this point.

While Administration was wining and dining their pools of worn out thoughts and repackaging useless concepts pre-Gene in their luxury offices in down town, you had kids in their basements developing P2P for the sake of amusement and pushing an envelop where no HBA could hold a candle.

Once more proven and twice reinforced is a loss of a true genius like Gene. Funny how business forgets to ask while passing your desk, "How are you doing." Oddly the phrase comes out insincerely as, "What are you doing."

Well it's done.
peace out!
CM

Damn, this is very sad and tragic whether the man committed suicide or if it was set up. Had so much to live for since the guy was only 25 years old I mean damn, it's just sad to imagine how much more he would've accomplished based on all that he did up until yesterday. By that I mean more then the p2p projects which have had a great impact on us all, but the more precious things that we all hope to accomplish sometime in our lives. Never knew the guy personally but my prayers do go out to his family and close friends.

God Bless...
Rest In Peace

He was my prom date. I haven't talked to him in two years...if anyone knows anything...please contact me immediatly.

Ok, so here's the deal:

SUN Microsystems only hires asians, so fuck them and fuck this asian bastard.

The record industry only assasinates silly asians too.

With all due respect to Gene in his death, I think he's a highly over rated figure in the P2P world.

Gene put up one of the first gnutella websites--that's about the extent of his contribution. He didn't write it, he just advocated it. Since his website was the most popular, press people called him at the beginning to put in a few soundbytes for the "p2p revolution" --and they got soundbytes which made him and the community sound like stupid high school kids. Future journalists who were too lazy to go out and find really educated people to quote just went and called the guy who everyone else had called--and it just went from there--and pretty soon you see Gene on TV as THE GNUTELLA MAN, when really--he just put up a website. That's it.

He and Fanning made good poster kids for P2P--they were what the media wanted to portray as modern teenagers; with millions in VC capitol and 12 hours of computer science at Berkeley. But as far as being knowledgable spokesmen for the community, they sucked. Kahn made a fool of himself and all of us for that matter many times.

His death is sad, but lets please not turn him into some kind of god. He just had a website.

Over rated?
From the New York Times:
"Kan and a few fellow programmers did not create Gnutella, but tweaked the Gnutella protocol so it could be replicated by other programmers around the world, unleashing massive music, video and software file-sharing."

Sounds to me like he did more than just post a website.

As for DeeperThought's comments; it is quite possible that it could have been a murder staged as a suicide. I do not see how that diminishes from his memory.

hellasmokey ur such an asshole u have no fucking respect. This dude was awesome then u wanna go crack on asians because they get good jobs because of their intelligence. didnt ur parents ever teach u manners

for the few that either thinks Kan should be simply remembered for making a website or made racist comments against him, i wonder how you'll be remembered when it comes time for you to die...

the way i see it, you guys will die pathetically, like cynical old men who had no respect for others in their whole life.

to sum it up: Ken's 25 years enjoyed in this world would end up way better than you pathetic, cynical minds who has no respect nor emotion for the passing away of others.

Supamax, what have you done for this world?

I've written articles about file sharing and been interviewed for others that have been read by hundreds of thousands of people--and changed a lot of minds.

What do I want to be remembered as in death? Not more than I was--I would like people to be honest about my impact on the world, instead of glorifying it beyond what it was. And really, its no beef with Kan--everyone who dies gets this treatment and I think its kinda dumb.

I'm sure Gene Kan was murdered!!!! He was murdered by the RECORDING INDUSTRY, I'm sure of it!!! Before you say "Naaah..." think about this!!! How much of the recording industry is run by the mob? At least 50%!!! Also, I mean, how much does it cost to have somebody "rubbed out" in the US? Only like $10,000 right? (I bet the mafia hitman offered to do it at a discount cuz the target was asian.) Gene Kan was murdered!!! I mean, Gene Kan didn't even own a gun!!! Also, why is the police so eager to call this a suacide? I mean, did the guy even have any reasons to commit suicide? He was like getting paid $100,000 a year!!!! WHY WOULD HE COMMIT SUICIDE? I bet the police have their hands in his murder too. Well, this just goes to show you what a horrible place the US is... If you get out of line and piss off the big industrial giants like the RIAA, you get RUBBED OUT!!! Just like that!!! And worse, people AUTOMATICALLY call it a SUACIDE!!! That's justice for you STUPID americans!!!!

I am so sadened and shocked when I heard this news (on CNN) and how readily the media has accepted that this was a suicide. This young man had everything to live for and was successful in everything he did - he just does not fit this profile and I firmly believe there's a strong possibility that this young man could have been killed by the government and/or private/RIAA. I'd question whether Ken had expressed any ideas to improve the gnutella protocol for improved anonymity? I'm so sad for his family/friends and the possible implications.

Ur... I take back the "That's justice for you STUPID americans!!!!"... (I was so upset before.) I didn't really mean it... I guess something like this could happen anywhere in the world when so much money is at stake... Yeah, I think I heard somewhere about Gene Kan wanting to improve the gnutella protocol for increased anonymity. Maybe this is the reason why the RIAA (or some other dark mafia linked corporate entity) wanted to rub him out... I guess this is their way of giving us their "message"... Grrrrr.. Let's not give in to these kinds of barbarians!!! Let's go out and spread the good news of Gnutella... Convert EVERYBODY!!! Let's figure out a way to improve the gnutella protocol for improved anonymity!!! What're you doing? LET'S MOVE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whats up to some of the f*cking stupid morons that has the guts and short mind to say racial motives against any **decent** individual on this planet. You f*cking stupid American white trashes stop attacking against everyone of the different color that has overcome your burger eating, coke drinking, fat asses. Just remember that when you f*cking die and go to hell from this planet, you won't have a piece of burger to go to hell with. You stupid geek *ass, cheap clothed, $1 coke s*cking pathetic hominid. You're worth 10 thousand less than a monkey. You remember that you don't have anything on this planet except your job from 5-9PM every f*cking day until your f*cking dying day like how your stupid fucking dads, grandads, mothers, sisters worked in their f*cking stupid lives.

Remember this and cry and weep:

If you poison us do we not die? If you poke us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you wrong us, do we not REVENGE??

Remember it!

This is f*cking war, against any r*cist faggets that attack any decent people on this planet.

"This is f*cking war, against any r*cist faggets that attack any decent people on this planet."

What an ironic statement...

It's a great pity that'll ppl will resort to such language and thoughtlessness in the wake of a very intelligent man's death. True, he wasn't the creator and as such shouldn't be held in such light, but the fact is he made a good idea great. If he hadn't, maybe someone else will, or maybe the music industry would've bought it out. Personally I wish I'd met the guy as genius is not measured by the amount of original material you possess, but how you manipulate existing objects in your mind. Gene took Gnutella and re-shaped it for the world to use. Whatever you say about the guy he's done you all a big favour in the fight for freedom.

I don't care whether he was an innovator or a posterboy. I don't care if he was a genius or a working shleb. I don't care how impacting he was on the world, or even the world of technology and p2p.

A 25 year old killed himself. I can't subscribe to any conspiracy rumors and the like, but you are entitled to them.

I feel bad, if for no other reason, that we live in a world where people fall through cracks like this so often and so tragically. I'm sorry Gene felt he had to leave like this.

I don't worry about his contributions to the world, I worry about how the world didn't contribute to him enough to make it worth his effort to stay among us.

Death is hardly ever funny. Suicide never is. It's just waste.

Rest in peace, Gene.

Condolences to the family and friends of Gene. I only knew him through his writings, but he seemed like a spirited, enthusiastic person. Its not unheard of for people who seem to have everything going for them to succumb to depression and take their life. But Gene sure didn't seem to fit that mold from what I could surmise of his personality. No more than Vincent Foster or that Enron millionaire. It seems lifted right out of the Tim Robbin's movie, "Anti-Trust." Whatever happened, I hope his death serves to strengthen the resolve of the P-2-P community. Whatever happened, it can't be undone. Honor him and fight the good fight.

This is sad...not only in Gene's passing but about some of the most idiotic posts in an open forum that I have come across over the past 15 years I've been perusing the Internet.

I know Gene personally from the RX-7 circles.  I didn't know too much about his Gnutella or coding exploits, but I did know him as an RX-7 person.  It sounds like some people (that's you *pressf8*) who have a fucking problem with all the publicity; I think you should stop trying to spout your crap on some one else's tragedy.  I really don't give a shit about the computer industry or whatever the fuck you do.  Whatever happened to Gene, I'm sure he would've been embarrassed by all the publicity this has gotten; hell, if he could just disappear, he would've taken that route instead of blowing his head with a gun.  Do you even personally known and met the Gene, pressf8?  I'd bet you haven't - stop making assumptions on character when you haven't even met the person who passed away.  I don't give a flying fuck if you die at this point.  You sound like someone trying to preach a sermon at someone's funeral when you don't even know the person.  All these other idiots in this thread, they got excuses - you, you're an educated person trying to mount a sermon.  Digusting at worse, awfully bad timing at best...


-Ted

i agree with you RETed, and to rest of the morons, bring it on!!

Rest in piece pal, you'll be missed.

Well, Ted...

"I'd bet you haven't - stop making assumptions on character when you haven't even met the person who passed away."

You're correct, I haven't met him. But then, I haven't made any assumptions on character either. I'm sure he was a great guy--I have nothing against him personally. I just don't like people making him out to be more than he was--not just in death, but in life too. Its unfortunate that the topic came up at a rather tragic event like this--and granted, I may not have the best timing; but regardless, it irks me.

Kan is a seminal figure in the short history of the web. He understood the significance of peer to peer from the inception, and proselytzed it. There can be no debate about that.

I did not know him, but angelo, the founder of Dmusic, did.

Just let the man REST IN PEACE...

Just a word about suicide. I didn't know the guy, but I knew other people who comitted suicide, so I can just make general comments.

There is no profil for suicide. And when it comes to suicide, money is certainly not an issue. Have you ever wondered what is really important in life? What can make someone sad to death?
When you can see nothing worth living for, nothing worth achieving.

I have no idea if he did it himself, or if he was set up. But please, stop saying he didn't have the profile. That is a lack of respect for all people who commited it and for their feelings.

Daff

In a suicide, people will always have opinions on why the person committed it in the first place or whether it was a suicide at all. Maybe it's their own way of trying to comprehend why it happened or perhaps it's a natural human reaction.

Whatever the underlying reason is, it will never outweigh the fact that a great talent was lost.

And to pressF8, it doesn't matter anymore if he was over- or under-rated because he's gone, and he will never be able to refute your statements

Wow! a lot of dumb idiots in this thread. I'm willing to wager a couple of indivuals who've posted negative remarks are not very sharp with people 2 people skills. I'm defining this as being a humanitarian. You may be high level programmers or technicians but true to life animals at your keyboards frothing over cold flesh in cyber-font. You suck.

As for suicide, the truth to suicide stems for a feeling of controlling one thing left in life with little choice on any other. That choice is your own end. A person commits suicide because it's the last proof they have of control over something which has been out of control. They slowly push themself [usually silently] from the struggle of loss of control and decide to master their own demise. In a small sense it's a control proving their life value by controlling its end.

I doubt anyone but Gene could answer this question. He answers to his G*d not to a board full of idiots taking his center final stage.

Exuse my English because this is not my mother tongue.

peace out
CM

What is tragic is that there could be something so utterly horrible that it could drive a young, vibrant and inventive person to take his own life. What's not working here?

Honestly I think it wasn't mentioned on any major outlet in the media, because it's not news. This happens all too often even to "young guys of 25".

I concur with the recent posts about the raw hatred and stupidity surrounding Gene Kan's suicide though. You never even knew the man, and most likely weren't aware of what he did and was doing, but yet, there's this strong negative emotion. It's a sad indicator for all who posted in that manner.

pressf8... you said:
"I've written articles about file sharing and been interviewed for others that have been read by hundreds of thousands of people--and changed a lot of minds."

ur so damned funny... i got nothing more to say.

I'm fairly new to this group so I should probably keep my mouth shut.
But I'm not. A person committed suicide. That's horrible. Gene must
have been terribly hurt/depressed/etc about something. No person
wakes up in the morning and thinks "gee, I think I'll kill myself today".
They do this because they are profoundly in pain by something and can
only see death as the way out. Despite the suiciders love and concern
for their parents or friends, their pain is so intense they still see only
one way. Death.
The stupid comments made by some in here are disgusting. I can
only assume they are either very very immature persons, or sociopaths.
Some bit-heads seem to have lost touch with humanity (as written in
several 'wired magazine' articles. I feel for them. You hide behind your
keyboards and fail to recognize how your blithering impacts others.
You want something to make fun of? I have AIDS, let's hear the
fag/AIDS jokes now. OK? Show us all how superior you losers are.
A man is dead at his own hand. Fame is fleeting. In a generation or
so there will be no memory left of most of us. Why hate? bye/f

Deeper thought, I think that oiur "Community" Button doesn't work, right. Do you know what I mean?

I hope that Gene Kan didn't end his own life, but I wish to honor his contributions to the community. May he rest in peace.

R.I.P. GENE KAN...:"(

>Honestly I think it wasn't mentioned
>on any major outlet in the media,
>because it's not news. This happens
>all too often even to "young guys of
>25".

Really now? Have you heard of Reuters news site? One of the TOTAL major outlets? http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=technologynews&StoryID=1182468
There's one MAJOR site.

How about CNN:
http://edition.cnn.com/2002/TECH/internet/07/10/obit.kan.ap/
There's another..

How about MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/778536.asp?0si=-&cp1=1

I guess you get the picture?

I don't know who you people are out there, but some of you have no respect for anybody, and if your brother died I don't think you'd want to be hearing this stupid shit about him. So, I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't assume anything. Vainity and hellasmokey, you two don't deserve to post your comments up because how can you not have any respect for him? In his 25 years of living, he's contributed to this world more than any of you jerks out there. Those 2 people's names I put down, how pathetic you guys are. You guys seem to be more pathetic than me and I'm only 18. I don't like to hear people talking shit about my brother. SO you can all stop right now.
-Vic Kan-

Oh, and thank you for everybody that supported him. And morgihed, what is your name? If you need anything, my email address is litlvic2@aol.com

litlvic2, I appoligise on the behalf of all the retarded ignorant people that have posted. To all you respect lacking fuckwhits, when you die, I hope no one says anything nice about you.

I'm pretty sure now that Gene Kan was murdered... Just look at this interview!

http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2000/09/mann-kan.htm

Gene Kan was saying "Sorry recording companies... You're obsolete!!!" That was what he was saying, basically... I'm pretty sure now that Gene Kan was murdered and the reason for that is because he was trying to make the gnutella protocol more anonymous! (He wanted to change the file transfering part of the gnutella protocol so that you would not be connecting directly to the person who is uploading the file.)

I'm sure that the recording industry mafia set up a conspiracy so that Gene Kan would be given medication that would make him become more depressed. After a while, they sent a hitman to kill him and make it look like suacide...

They say Gene Kan commited suacide with a gun! But Gene Kan doesn't OWN a gun!!! How can he commit suacide with a gun when he has no gun? It was a hitman that pumped a bullet into Gene Kan's head and then placed the gun in his hand to make it look like suacide... I'm sure the police was involved in the conspiracy too. Just look at how hurriedly they cremated Gene Kan's body!!!

I'm not kidding! I'm sure this is what really happened!!! After all, they ARE the MAFIA!!! (Do you have any idea how much of the recording industry is run by the Italian mafia?)

hi, this is Gene's brother again. Please stop speculating things. It doesn't feel very good to hear these things about him. Thank you

Will you all please show some repect.

A young man has died in tragic circumstances. Hardly any of you knew him, so you have no right to speculate on his state of mind.

Your conspiracy theories are upsetting his brother.

That is all I have to say.

For everyone that is posting about the conspiracy...
1. You don't have to own a gun to be able to get your hands on one when you really want to.
2. Every year thousands of people take their own lives for various reasons, some are poor, some are rich, some are old and some very young.
You could not possibly understand or know what he was thinking at the time that this happened.
3. Either way suicide or conspiracy, a good man is not longer with us. This is neither the time or place for this. If you have something nice to say about him or a fond memory to post, please speak up.

Save everything else for the message boards that i'm sure will popup all over the net, no one here want to hear it.

Yesterday, I saw a thread here stating that his death was not suicide. What happend to that thread?

I noticed that the article regarding Gene's murder was removed from the articles section. So this message goes out to the simpleminded mortherfucker who deleted THE TRUTH. A hearty fuck you forever. You have no brains. You are the problem with the world.
GENE KAN WAS MURDERED, NOT BY THE RECORDING INDUSTRY BUT BE A HIGHLY ORGANIZED GROUP OF EX INTELLIGENCE OPERATIVES WHO WORK UNDER THE FORCES ALIGNED WITH BUSHES NEW WORLD ORDER.

SEE www.voxnyc.com

AND WAKE THE FUCK UP PEOPLE!
Most of the posts who have attacked the accusation of murder are working for them.

Vox, give up. Seriously.

When a group of ex-intelligence operatives "suicide" someone, they spend approximately 70% of their resources on the cover story, the evidence and the cover up. All these posts here seemingly doubting that gene could have possibly killed himself are COMING FROM THE GROUP WHO KILLED GENE. It's the easiest thing to do because it is an open forum. Go ahead and read all of the posts which claim that it is impossible that Gene could have been murdered. Read them. Then ask yourself why with all the knowledge that we have about REALITY that these people are so sure that the GOVERNMENT or RECORD INDUSTRY would never consider such a move as eliminating a key figure in a movement which threatened their very existence. So listen up: OPEN SOURCE PEER TO PEER NETWORKS THREATEN THE VERY EXISTENCE OF ALL GOVERNMENTS AND BUSINESSES.
What do you think of that?
Do you want to get to a debate about that. Or are you going to think that the people who read these threads are so stupid that your carefully placed comments such as , "What a conspiracy nut" and "give it up" are going to replace thefacts, the reality. Unless you've got something better than that you should leave this forum - cop. This forum has so many cops, and trools, and counterintelligence agents since the MURDER of GENE KAN that that fact alone should tell the whole story.

GENE WAS MURDERED
STAND UP
FIGHT BACK
KNOW YOUR ENEMY

love & solidarity
voxfux
www.voxnyc.com

I think the details of Gene Kan's depression should be released so that people in the similar depression knows that they should get out of it or they will be like Gene. It is very very sad to hear that such a genius dies at age 25. :~(

OK here's an experiment. Lets demand that the administrators of this site examine all these postings which are trying to divert people from the fact that Gene was murdered. All the posts saying "Oh please stop with all this conspiracy stuff" and "Depression was such a tragic thing" You will find that most of the posts that are trying to distract you from GENE'S MURDER are from people who just joined AFTER GENE'S MURDER. Now isn't that strange. Suddenly there are all these new people who joined up and have a REAL BIG INTEREST in downplaying and distracting people from GENE'S MURDER. Hmmmmm.

So I'll repeat it one more time: GENE WAS MURDERED!
Not suicide.
Not depression.

IT was MURDER
Don't let these fraudulend diversionary posts distract you from the hard reality.

voxfux
www.voxnyc.com

voxfux, gene would've been amused by the news of his assassination.

since I respect the aversion to "the big interest" that underlies your groundless and fantastic views, I have only this to say: the Revolution will not be a download.

voxfuc

have you no sense of respect. It must be difficult enough for his family to go through what they are going through already; but you have to make things much harder for them with your rude and inconsiderate comments.

Why must details of his death be released? Perhaps his family would like to keep his life private.

Does his family's wishes not matter?

Stop posting crap and respect his family and brother wishes as he has ask politely not to speculate on anything already.

Vox, if it helps, I'm not new, and I still say that you're full of shit. However, I can't help but notice that you yourself joined on July 12, 2002.

Y'all are killin me here.. This whole debate on if he was murdered or committed suicide is make u all turn into monsters arguing over and over and over.. I'm sure gene's sayin shut the hell up and stop arguing over me right now.

R.I.P Gene,

You conspiracy guys need to get a life.

I have been reading Gene's old college website using the wayback machine. How sad it is to sit and read his high school speech which was full of hope. You look at his resume and you can see just how much he had going for him. But then you read his blog site and you can see that something had definitely changed in his life. The brightest among us are often the hardest on themselves and the world. Its a tragedy that he lost perspective, but at least we can use the power of the web to go "wayback" and see his happier times.

Well, I don't know Gene, not much about his works, but it is really sad to see such a promising person die at such a young age.

Ironically, although Gene graduated from Berkeley five years ago and may be not related what has happened since, already two people commited suicide at UC Berkeley in the first half of this year. More ironic is that both were math and science majors, and the math major guy, a server administrator at the campus, seem to have been under stress for not getting into EECS major.

When the second person jumped off from a science building in bright day light about a month after the first incident, that really snapped a lot of students. Some left for homes that weekend in disgust.

It is sad, that in our minds coexist place of euphoria and place of torment.
I just hope that Gene went to a place much better than this world.
Over there, what many say about him, some negative, will not matter a bit. Does it matter?

your fukc'ng project kill many man's how want to be king. Just......i mean ....go TO HELL FUKC'IN IDIOT.

So this is the outcome of human "evolution" huh. We have turned this planet into a hell world. Why does everything have to be a market? Why do we judge the value of everything in dollar amounts?

Products, Services, Real Estate, Tuition, Stocks, Greed driven heartless Satanic Murdering Profiteers and hey the RIAA wants to use our tax dollars to legally punish people who aren't mindless consumers and went to college and have a brain and a web connected PC. Remember kids if you do drugs you are aiding CIA terrorist drug dealers ($3 million dollar TV commercial). Why hasn't the Defense Department been held responsible for like the billions of dollars that it "misplaced" (Hey lets invade Iraq - can you say WAR MONGERING)? The Government and Congress are just as bad as WorldCom, Enron, Aldelphia, etc. etc.

Anyone who doesn't believe that Gene was murdered by the RIAA Corporate MAFIA and that the police and media couldn't be in on it is just plain naive (suicide my ass - how gullible do you think we are?)!

There was a really good movie made called "Anti-Trust". You should check it out if you haven’t already - art imitates life/reality and vice versa.

See you on the other side -> 2013

I'am swedis

P.S. That $3 million the Gov spent on a doing "drugs" (like there are not thousands of dif kinds espcially the ones the pharmacutacal industry pays politicians to be Legal) helps aid terrorists was paid for by your TAX Dollars. All the $$$ that enable the Defense Depart and Pentagon to build Nuclear Weapons and Anthrax are all paid for by your TAX DOLLARS. So remember to be a "good consumer" and buy a SUV from Ford and constantly fill it up with Oil/Gasoline from the Middle East so those companies stock prices will go up and we can invade Iraq and win the "War on Terror". Get the drift?

Above the is a post by someone claiming to be Gene's brother.

litlvic2

He is claiming that he is Gene's little brother. And has left an annomous e-mail address. But something strange is happening. Both myself and reporter Tim Hay from the San Mateo County Times (Gene's hometown) has contacted that e-mail address with info regarding Gene. But there has been ZERO response. How much do you want to bet that this litlvic2 is NOT Gene's brother.

GENE KAN WAS MURDERED!
WAKE THE FUCK UP!

vox,

you should feel ashamed at yourself for writing this kind of meaningless drivel you have posted. Are you a human being or what? Go away, stop dishonoring this community and his memory by spreading rediculous lies. I hope for your sake that people do not do unto you as you have unto him.

vox,

perhaps litlvic2 has nothing to prove to you. Why should he give you any time or day when you have disrepected him time after time.

Just because "there has been ZERO response" doesnt mean shit other than that you're a moron.

Get on with your life and just let Gene RIP, will you.

Look, I just came around here. ANd I don't want to come off as an asshole right away. But, there is a lot of fish smell going around on this issue.

Does anyone know where Justin Frankel is these days? Guess what? he's toast. Supposedly OD'd on speed. Even though he was with family on the night and time he was supposedly to have suddenly developed a drug addiciton in 15 minutes.

You'll notice very little mention of him at winamp.com and even aol doesn't say much about him. That which is said, is usually genralised and also old. For PR reasons, on a few things are ever updated about him to keep it looking fresh.

There is some sick shit going on and it's like a big giant 'Antitrust' movie.

I have GREAT respect for Gene Kan. He and I thought a lot alike about things. It was like watching a football game when I watched him on sattelite while he was giving his talks on the table. The respect I have for him is not for just anyone, it's for people who would never kill themselves because of a thirst for life, and a belief system that would make our world a much better place.

litlvic2, I want you to know, that in no way, if you don't want wounds to be torn open again that are just barely beginning to heal, should you be coming to Gnutella websites! is there must be some sadistic thing going on with you right now. If there is, I suggest you seak some counceling as soon as possible to work through these issues.

In any case, we are not saying bad things about Gene (except for the sicko's who are meaningless and hold no ground for mutual opinions shared.) what we are saying is that something DID happen. Lets say that yes, he did pass away by his own hands. But, the odds of that happening are far less than him actually being killed by the preadators who are our government, and now big money who is aparently now our government also.

addendum:
voxfux

you are a little brash, and need to seek help. With your borederlined extremist attitudes, you are only contributing to 'their' cause.

Calm down dude, and seek some help not everyone and everything is out to get you.

I bet you are athiest too.

Such a young man takes his own life. Will the reasons ever be publicly known? Doubtful. All the speculation on this issue is sickening. Especially the harsh and immature comments that have been written prior to my response. One's that contain racial slurs and ideas of conspiracy are completely ignorant. You people are exactly what is wrong with the world today. You cynical, one-track minded bastards.

I am sure Gene Kan never knew his suicide would bring across discussions on ethnicity and conspiracies. So, if any of you have any respect at all, just allow the man to rest in peace.

Here's to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in this wretched, ill-minded, cynical nation.

R.I.P Kan, may your death not bring forth anymore ignorance, just mourning and respect for one of the pioneers of Gnutella.

"One's that contain racial slurs and ideas of conspiracy are completely ignorant. You people are exactly what is wrong with the world today. You cynical, one-track minded bastards."

It's ignorant and also hypocritical of you to say that. racial slurs are one thing. But to simply go by what the news tells you to believe is another. I will say nothing more on all of this, but I do hope that very soon Gene Kan becomes the martyr he deserves to be.

How is that ignorant and hypocritical. I am believing what I think is the truth. You are the ignorant one.

Read the above seven comments VERY CAREFULLY.
It's classic disinformation 101 psy-ops.
And look at their "Member Since" dates. They joined two days apart. In response to my Article. They weren't a part of this forum. But they are posing like they are. One even perports to speak to Litlvic (who calls himself Gene's little brother) That's how brazen these killers are. They're killing and putting their murder righ in your face and laughing because they know that EVEN THOUGH IT'S RIGHT IN YOU FACE all they have to do to distract people from warnings and alerts such as I am writing is to simply make a battery of comments such as the ones above. One of the most popular comments to discredit someone (this one works on simpleminded people everywhere - You need to adjust your meds dude.) These comments are most likely emerging from an organized intelligence group, not Gnutella developer forums. Gnutella people don't think like these above assholes who are trying to cover the Gene Kan Assassination.
Lets start by analysing their IP traceroutes and see if any patterns are present.
I see some real warning flags with all these "Forget About It gene Definately killed himself" posts.

GENE KAN WAS MURDERED JUST LOOK AT THE FACTS.
Nobody has ever herd of most of the above commenters, ever, and why do you think that is? Because they are involved with the cover up of this US based intelligence group's assassination of Gene Kan

For the real Facts Go To: www.voxnyc.com

One down. NEXT !

Gene Khan was not murdered. He committed suicide after a girlfriend in France dumped him. I'm sorry to see so many people messing around and making pathetic jokes about his life. Show some respect for the deceased already. He was my cousin

One more note- I'm betting litlvic2 IS gene's brother. He had two brothers- vic and jack