DURHAM, NC--(Marketwired - July 13, 2016) - Open Invention Network (OIN), the largest patent non-aggression community in history, announced today that the number of organizations joining the OIN community by accepting the OIN license has surpassed the 2,000 mark. To put this milestone into perspective, in only 18 months OIN has doubled the size of its community, indicative of the growing importance of open source software and the increased expectation for patent non-aggression in core Linux and open source technologies.
OIN's large and growing community is distinct as a patent non-aggression organization as participation is available to the entire technology industry. There is no charge to join OIN, and participation provides access to hundreds of millions of dollars worth of intellectual property while promoting a positive environment for Linux and open source software.
"OIN's remarkable growth has been driven by heightened recognition of the importance of open source as a modality for innovation and a broad-based acceptance of patent non-aggression as a cultural norm in the Linux and greater open source community. The resultant values of collaboration and sharing have become pervasive and with it has emerged an expectation of freedom from patent aggression within the scope of the Linux System," said Keith Bergelt, CEO. "In expanding its network of licensees and the strength of its community, OIN has appealed to small and large companies alike and is now seen as a key resource in supporting patent non-aggression."
OIN facilitates the sharing of patent rights between its community members and the coverage for sharing is called OIN's "Linux System". As the pervasiveness of Linux has increased, the definition of the Linux System has evolved to address Linux and adjacent open source technologies as well as mobile, Cloud, Internet-of-Things, embedded and automotive technologies, among many others.
Recent licensees include:
- Hyundai-Kia Motors
- Ford Motor Company
- SpaceX
- SAP SE
- NXP Semiconductors N.V.
- Seagate
- Pitney Bowes
- Amadeus SAS
- Reliance Industries Limited / Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited
- Meizu
- Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd.
- Sugon (aka Dawning Information Industry Co Ltd)
- Arcadyan
- Sierra Wireless
- Sercomm
- Personal SA
- SolarCity
- Yokogawa Electric
- CoreLogic
- Newegg.com
- Acushnet Company
- Kontron
- Shutterstock
The more than 2,000 organizations that have joined the OIN community have done so by signing the OIN license, which can be signed online at www.j-oin.com.
About Open Invention Network
Open Invention Network is the largest patent non-aggression community in history and supports freedom of action in Linux as a key element of open source software. Funded by Google, IBM, NEC, Philips, Red Hat, Sony and SUSE, OIN has more than 2,000 OIN community members and owns more than 1,100 global patents and applications. The OIN patent license and member cross-licenses are available royalty free to any party that joins the OIN community. For more information, visit http://www.openinventionnetwork.com.
Contact Information:
Media-Only Contact:
Ed Schauweker
Agile Public Relations for Open Invention Network
ed@agilepr.net
(703) 963-5238