- Open Invention Network is funded by Google, IBM, NEC, Philips, Red Hat, Sony, SUSE and Toyota
- The group will support Unified Patents’ Open Source Zone with a substantial annual subscription
According to a report by Globe Newswire, Open Invention Network (OIN) has collaborated with IBM, the Linux Foundation and Microsoft to protect open source software (OSS) from Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs) using low quality patents called patent trolls. The group will support Unified Patents’ Open Source Zone with a substantial annual subscription. It will allow to expand OIN’s and the partners’ patent non-aggression activities by preventing PAEs from targeting Linux and adjacent OSS technologies used by developers, distributors and users.
Over 1,300 global patents and applications
Open Invention Network is funded by Google, IBM, NEC, Philips, Red Hat, Sony, Suse and Toyota. It has more than 3,000 community members and owns over 1,300 global patents and applications. The OIN patent license and member cross-licenses are available royalty-free to any company that joins the OIN community.
Keith Bergelt, CEO of OIN, said, “Open source development continues to expand into new products and markets, delivering unrivaled innovation. Our mandate is to educate business leaders about the benefits of open source and shared innovation while providing a ‘patent no-fly zone’ for Linux and adjacent open source technologies. Teaming with IBM, the Linux Foundation and Microsoft to support Unified Patents’ Open Source Zone adds another key patent non-aggression initiative to our efforts.”
