Mission Focused.
Proven Success.
Open Source Patent Protection.

For over 20 years, Open Invention Network (OIN) has remained the world’s largest and only community 100% dedicated to protecting Open Source Software (OSS) from patent risks — including those posed by Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs) — and fostering an environment where innovation can thrive.

Backed by $160 million in capital and strategic patents from eight founding members, OIN has built a global community of more than 4,000 organizations that own 3+ million active patents and generate $10+ trillion (USD) in combined revenue.

Members range from startups and developers to global enterprises, united in their commitment to OSS through a patent cross-license protecting over 5,100 core Linux and Open Source technologies.

OIN also founded and funded the Open Source Zone, which has helped invalidate or review dozens of harmful patents since 2019. Today, with 90% of companies worldwide relying on Open Source, OIN continues to safeguard the technologies.

OIN 2.0 Facts at a Glance | PDF Download
Facts at a Glance

OIN 2.0
Sustainability. Scalability.
Shared Responsibility.

Open Source technologies have grown exponentially beyond Linux, into new and exciting sectors — clearly beyond what was originally envisioned in the early 2000s when OIN was created.

Moving beyond support from a core group of funding members, OIN 2.0 introduces a shared and community-driven funding approach designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of OIN and its mission. OIN 2.0 provides free participation to small businesses and individuals, while medium-sized companies and large enterprises support OIN’s future growth through a Tiered Annual Participation Fee based on their revenue.

Effective on January 27, 2026, with Linux System Table 13 and all subsequent coverage expansions, OIN 2.0 provides members the ability clear patent risk at scale in open source as it grows.

By signing the OIN 2.0 License Agreement, every member commits to patent peace — agreeing not to assert patents against others within the Linux System — and gains the full benefit of ongoing and continued protection as new technologies are added.

Mission

We enable freedom of action for Open Invention Network community members and users of Linux / OSS-based technology through our patent non-aggression, cross-license in the Linux System, which defines the commitment of all community members.

Vision

We will execute our mission by growing our community membership and engaging with companies of all types — from start-ups to Fortune 100 enterprises — across diverse industries.

  • We will continue to grow our worldwide membership & the Linux System over time.

  • We will continue updating the Linux System through a conservative, consensus-driven process to keep up with technological advances.

  • We will actively monitor for patent-related threats to Linux & adjacent Open Source technologies & encourage Open Source community Intellectual Property (IP)-related initiatives.

  • We will continue to promote & educate our community on complementary defensive IP strategies and support key Open Source initiatives.

Key Linux System Technologies

  • Apache

  • Eclipse

  • Evolution

  • Fedora Directory Server

  • Firefox

  • GIMP

  • GNOME

  • GO

  • KDE

  • MONO

  • Mozilla

  • MySQL

  • Nautilus

  • .Net

  • OpenOffice.org

  • Open-Xchange

  • Perl

  • PostgreSQL

  • Python

  • Rust

  • Samba

  • SELinux

  • Sendmail

  • Thunderbird

Learn more about Open Invention Network

Learn about OIN’s Member Benefits
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