Open Invention Network Shelters More Open Source Technologies from Licensing Battles

by Ostatic Staff - Mar. 06, 2012

For years, the Open Invention Network (OIN), has been focused on intellectual property and a royalty-free approach to promoting Linux, open source applications and a collaborative open source ecosystem. Now, OIN, has announced that it has significantly expanded and updated the Linux System technologies covered under its protective network of royalty-free cross-licenses among hundreds of OIN licensees.The upshot of this is that more than 700 new software packages -- including popular packages such as KVM, Git, OpenJDK, and WebKit -- will now receive royalty-free shelter under OIN, which could make it more friction-free for organizations and developers to adopt and modify open source technology.

OIN's statement includes a note about the implications for the Linux community: "The improved coverage of the OIN license will help to encourage ongoing collaboration and investment from Linux developers, distributors, sellers, resellers and end-users."

"This expansion in the coverage of the OIN license furthers OIN's mission to enable and protect Linux," said Keith Bergelt, CEO of Open Invention Network. "This update is an exciting day for OIN and Linux, and is driven by the dynamic growth of open source software. We are pleased to offer enhanced value to OIN's licensees, which we believe will be beneficial to the open source community as a whole."

According to an explanation of OIN's newly expanded royalty-free program:

"Patents owned by Open Invention Network are available royalty-free to any company, institution or individual that agrees not to assert its patents against the 'Linux System,' as defined at http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/pat_linuxdef.php. With its license, OIN is disseminating protections, including patent cross-licenses and releases from claims of patent infringement among its licensees, which in turn encourages collaboration. The Open Invention Network license can be found at http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/pat_license_agreement.php."

OIN was formed in 2005 by IBM, NEC, Novell, Philips, Red Hat and Sony.