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.

Linux Defenders

Linux Defenders is a program to eliminate poor quality patents. It does so through community prior art and defensive publication efforts, as described on the Linux Defenders site.

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…

The convergence of technology and finance has resulted in an increase in PAE litigation against financial services companies involving non-financial services-related patents.

Josh DeathTD Bank

Partnering with OIN helps us drive new concepts forward and continually improve upon our existing designs. The strong community-driven approach that OIN stands behind is the very principles which we were founded upon. It’s essentially combining brilliance to improve the world around us.

Jeff Moe, Aleph Objects, Inc.

OIN is an organization which helps protect the Linux ecosystem by building a variety of defenses against patent attacks…By joining, Mozilla receives cross-licenses from other OIN licensees, but more importantly, for the long term, it affords us a chance to work with OIN in reducing IP threats to open source development and innovation.

Harvey Anderson, Mozilla Project

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

As a leading provider of open cloud solutions in Asia, especially in China, we believe OIN’s work to promote patent non-aggression in cloud computing is of great value to our organization and to the industry. We look forward to being part of OIN’s community to develop and grow open cloud computing.

Hui Cheng, UnitedStack

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

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

The ecosystem in which we operate is changing rapidly. Innovation that was once squarely housed within the community and exclusively oriented towards its collective betterment is increasingly being conducted across a growing number of companies around the world. That growth is exciting, but there is no denying that with it comes a complex array of actors and interests, some of whom may be more opportunistic in their thinking when it comes to intellectual property rights. Ensuring that permission…

James MurdockBlockstream

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

We view Open Invention Network as one of the key methods through which open source leaders and innovators can deter patent aggression. “We are committed to freedom of action in open source, and have noted OIN’s efforts to actively defend and enable the Linux ecosystem.

Jane Silber, Canonical

Recently Joined the OIN Community

About OIN

OIN Community

Our License Agreement

OIN Linux System

Press Room

Linux Defenders

Press Mentions

What people are saying…