Home - Open Invention Network

Recently Joined the OIN Community

About OIN

OIN is a defensive patent pool and community of patent non-aggression which enables freedom of action in Linux. Learn about OIN’s mission, team, supporters, and more.

OIN Community

Over 2,000 organizations have joined OIN. In support of patent non-aggression. For free access to OIN’s patents. And to gain royalty free access to Linux System patents of other OIN participants.

Our License Agreement

Available to all parties, a completed OIN license agreement provides entry to the OIN community and its benefits. Review the agreement, learn more, and sign up online.

OIN Linux System

The Linux System is the set of technologies in which OIN participants agree to cross-license patents to another. A shared zone of patent non-aggression to promote collaboration.

Press Room

OIN enables freedom of action in open source and Linux, which have been great sources of innovation. Find press releases, coverage, FAQs, resources and more here.

Community Initiatives

OIN supports complementary community initiatives that are good for our community and open source software.

Press Mentions

June 21, 2018
Blockchain Patent Holders Look to Dodge Trolls, Lawsuits

May 29, 2018
Safeguarding Open Source and Blockchain’s Patent Landscape

Read More >>

What people are saying…

Linux can be found in consumer and professional systems in use around the globe. We are committed to redesigning the lifestyles of people around the world, by providing them with excitement and peace of mind. One way we create sophisticated products is by using advanced open platforms, and we are committed to ensuring their ongoing development. Joining Open Invention Network is another way we are demonstrating our commitment to open innovation and collaboration.

Tetsuro FuseJVCKENWOOD

Our participation in OIN means we’ve promised to share our patents with other open-source companies working on Linux and OpenStack and it puts us in the company, once again, of our compatriots from the OpenStack foundation – IBM, Red Hat, HP, Canonical and others.

Gretchen Curtis, Piston Cloud Computing

OIN protects the open-source community through a patent cross-license for Linux and related open-source technologies. The license is free and available to companies, organizations, and individual developers if they agree not to assert their own patents against Linux.

Chris DiBonaGoogle

Our project maintains a position against software patents, but joining OIN provides a safety net when it comes to the risks of such patents.

Pier Fiorini, Maui Project

By signing this agreement with the Open Invention Network we’re sending the world a strong message about DreamHost’s commitment to open source software. This is a clear shot across the bow of software patent trolls who have been stifling innovation and stretching the boundaries of the English language since the early 1990s.

Brett Dunst, DreamHost

Blockchain technology is worth getting extremely excited about no matter what industry you are in. For anything that requires multiple layers of verification, the blockchain lets you cut out those layers. And that’s just very powerful.

Joan WarnerOxford Economics

We are very excited to join and support OIN, which is really reaching critical mass. This decision has clear value for a company like us, and we believe for all the other new OIN members. We highly encourage other companies to consider joining OIN as well so we create an even stronger protection mechanism for the benefit of the entire Linux ecosystem.

Thierry Koehrlen, Ulteo

Linux, and more broadly open source software, is a foundational technology in the desktop, mobile, networking, cloud and embedded computing environments. We are committed to open solutions that promote advances in all of the sectors that depend on advanced x86 and ARM platforms. Joining Open Invention Network is another way we are demonstrating our commitment to open innovation and collaboration.

Richard Brown, VIA Technologies

OSADL is convinced that joining oin is an important step towards protection of software investment, and as such OSADL is leading by example and advising its members to also do so.

Carsten Emde, OSADL

The OpenWrt developers believe that openness and collaboration across domains is the groundwork which nurtures Linux development. The new partnership with Open Invention Network will be one of the building blocks pushing OpenWrt forward and advance Linux innovation in general.

Gregers Petersen, OpenWrt

Recently Joined the OIN Community

About OIN

OIN Community

Our License Agreement

OIN Linux System

Press Room

Community Initiatives

Press Mentions

What people are saying…