Open Invention Network safeguards Open Source Software from patent risk.
Open Invention Network is the largest Patent Non-aggression community. Over 4,000 OIN community members collectively own 3 million patents & applications. They pledge not to assert their patents in core Open Source Software through OIN’s cross-license, preserving freedom to innovate in covered technologies.
Open Invention Network safeguards Open Source Software from patent risk.
Open Invention Network is the largest Patent Non-aggression community. Nearly 4,000 OIN community members collectively own 3 million patents & applications. They pledge not to assert their patents in core Open Source Software through OIN’s cross-license, preserving freedom to innovate in covered technologies.
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.
4,000
Community Members
157
Countries
“Freedom to participate in Open Source projects and adopt Linux and other Open Source code has been enabled through broad based participation in the OIN cross-license, which has become a litmus test for authenticity in the Open Source community. Joining the OIN community demonstrates an explicit recognition among signatories of a commitment to Open Source technologies and the set of norms required around the appropriate use of patents in an increasingly Open Source-centric world. Companies that do not sign the OIN license and refuse to participate in this rapidly growing community are explicitly or implicitly reserving the right to use their patents to litigate on core Linux and OSS functionality.”
Keith Bergelt
CEO | Open Invention Network
“Freedom to participate in Open Source projects and adopt Linux and other Open Source code has been enabled through broad based participation in the OIN cross-license, which has become a litmus test for authenticity in the Open Source community. Joining the OIN community demonstrates an explicit recognition among signatories of a commitment to Open Source technologies and the set of norms required around the appropriate use of patents in an increasingly Open Source-centric world. Companies that do not sign the OIN license and refuse to participate in this rapidly growing community are explicitly or implicitly reserving the right to use their patents to litigate on core Linux and OSS functionality.”
Latest News & Events
➜ Industry News
Largest Non-Government Retailer in China Joins OIN
Suning Holdings Group — a privately-held company — operates more than 10,000 stores nationwide & an eCommerce platform with over 3 million products, including home appliances, digital devices & communications merchandise. Suning.com is one of the Top 3 Chinese B2C companies; ranks 318th on the Fortune Global 500 list; is 9th among the …
➜ OIN In The News
Sony’s Intellectual Property Leadership Protects Open Source
June 17, 2025 — It’s been 20 years since IBM/RedHat, Philips, NEC, Sony & SUSE — joined later by Google and Toyota — established OIN. Patent Lawyer Magazine publishes a one-on-one interview with Peter Toto, SVP & IP Counsel at Sony, as well as a …
➜ 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, …