Our mission remains
stronger than ever:
to empower innovation
through collaboration
Our mission remains
stronger than ever:
to empower innovation
through collaboration
Since 2005, OIN has been the world’s only institution dedicated to protecting Open Source innovation from patent attacks & costly litigation.
As a pioneer in Open Source patent risk mitigation, we offer an exclusive cross-license in over 4,500 core Linux and Open Source technologies for its global members through its evolving Linux System definition.
Our 4000+ community members own more than 3 million patents & applications, forming a powerful patent alliance to protect Open Source as it grows.
Open Source is at the heart of computing and is critical to how technology is shared, co-developed, and advanced. OIN’s twenty years of work have been essential in defending the open source ecosystem from patent aggressors and protecting the ability to work openly.
Anne Bertucio
Head of Open Source Programs Office | Google
Open Invention Network plays a vital role in protecting the open source community from patent aggression. This has led to incredible innovations in areas like telecommunications, cloud computing and AI. Looking forward, we will continue working together with OIN and its community to ensure that open source remains the driving force behind future innovations.
Chris Wright
Chief Technology Officer | Red Hat
Open Source is at the heart of computing and is critical to how technology is shared, co-developed, and advanced. OIN’s twenty years of work have been essential in defending the open source ecosystem from patent aggressors and protecting the ability to work openly.
Anne Bertucio
Head of Open Source Programs Office | Google
Open Invention Network plays a vital role in protecting the open source community from patent aggression. This has led to incredible innovations in areas like telecommunications, cloud computing and AI. Looking forward, we will continue working together with OIN and its community to ensure that open source remains the driving force behind future innovations.
Chris Wright
Chief Technology Officer | Red Hat
Join our Community of Global Leaders
OIN is the largest patent non-aggression community in history. Together, we support freedom of action in Linux as a key element of Open Source & help members reduce patent risks.
OIN believes greater diversity of thought, perspective and talent drives higher levels of innovation. We promote the idea that Open Source technologies provide a new business model which distills collective and global intelligence.
Over
4,000
Community Members
Members
from 157
Countries
Join our Community of Global Leaders
OIN is the largest patent non-aggression community in history. Together, we support freedom of action in Linux as a key element of Open Source & help members reduce patent risks.
OIN believes greater diversity of thought, perspective and talent drives higher levels of innovation. We promote the idea that Open Source technologies provide a new business model which distills collective and global intelligence.
Over
4,000
Community Members
Members
from 157
Countries
OIN’s Funding Members
Linux and Open Source Software were still relatively nascent when IBM co-founded Open Invention Network (OIN) back in 2005. Today, Open Source is everywhere and proven to be a driver of innovation and growth. OIN has been encouraging and protecting open technology investment over the past two decades and stands as an example of intellectual property innovation.
Frank Sedlarcik
Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, Research & IP | IBM
Twenty years ago, when OIN was conceived, Linux and other open source software projects showed great potential for driving technological advancements rapidly. Today, the potential has realized, as the success of open source software development and adoption has elevated its importance in the tech landscape. We are proud to have supported the Open Invention Network in its efforts to provide a patent protection zone in open source software.
Fumio Imoto
Managing Director of Intellectual Property Management & Rule Making/Standardization Division | NEC
Linux and Open Source Software were still relatively nascent when IBM co-founded Open Invention Network (OIN) back in 2005. Today, Open Source is everywhere and proven to be a driver of innovation and growth. OIN has been encouraging and protecting open technology investment over the past two decades and stands as an example of intellectual property innovation.
Frank Sedlarcik
Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, Research & IP | IBM
Twenty years ago, when OIN was conceived, Linux and other open source software projects showed great potential for driving technological advancements rapidly. Today, the potential has realized, as the success of open source software development and adoption has elevated its importance in the tech landscape. We are proud to have supported the Open Invention Network in its efforts to provide a patent protection zone in open source software.
Fumio Imoto
Managing Director of Intellectual Property Management & Rule Making/Standardization Division | NEC
We are proud to have been one of the original co-founders and funding members of the Open Invention Network 20 years ago, to protect the Linux System from patent attacks. OIN was a groundbreaking achievement in intellectual property management. “By enabling businesses of all types and sizes to enjoy the freedom to share innovation at fundamental levels, with significantly reduced patent risk, we have seen unprecedented software innovation globally, better than we ever imagined.
Jako Eleveld
Head of IP Licensing & Vice President | Philips
Open Invention Network has played a critical role in allowing the Open Source Software community to flourish and grow. It has driven patent protection in core technologies, which has enabled companies to innovate and invest in technologies that differentiate their products higher in the software stack. We look forward to continuing to work with OIN to protect the open source community from patent aggressors.
Jim Zemlin
Executive Director | The Linux Foundation
We are proud to have been one of the original co-founders and funding members of the Open Invention Network 20 years ago, to protect the Linux System from patent attacks. OIN was a groundbreaking achievement in intellectual property management. “By enabling businesses of all types and sizes to enjoy the freedom to share innovation at fundamental levels, with significantly reduced patent risk, we have seen unprecedented software innovation globally, better than we ever imagined.
Jako Eleveld
Head of IP Licensing & Vice President | Philips
Open Invention Network has played a critical role in allowing the Open Source Software community to flourish and grow. It has driven patent protection in core technologies, which has enabled companies to innovate and invest in technologies that differentiate their products higher in the software stack. We look forward to continuing to work with OIN to protect the open source community from patent aggressors.
Jim Zemlin
Executive Director | The Linux Foundation
Latest News & Events
➜ Industry News
IDIS: South Korea’s largest video surveillance manufacturer joins OIN.
In 2025, IDIS, South Korea's leading video surveillance manufacturer, joined the Open Invention Network (OIN), a move that further strengthens its commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration within the Open Source community. By becoming a community member of OIN, IDIS demonstrates its dedication to advancing …
➜ OIN In The News
Intellectual Property Innovator, OIN Announces its 20th Anniversary
April 29, 2025 — The largest patent non-aggression community in history & the forerunner to many defensive patent organizations today, OIN is celebrating its 20th birthday. Separate from a unique patent cross-license, OIN safeguards Open Source Software (OSS) by neutralizing patent threats through such defense strategies …
➜ Press Releases
Open Invention Network Celebrates 20 Years!
The Largest Cross-Licensed Community in History continues to expand scope of activities to enable and protect Open Source Developers, Distributors, and Users. Durham, NC (April 29, 2025) - Open Invention Network (OIN), the only institution focused on mitigating patent risk in open source software, …