Voices from
OIN’s Founders & Funders
“OIN has been a catalyst for Open Source innovation, enabling progress far beyond what was imagined at its inception. As open innovation continues to shape the future of technology, it’s vital that we protect it. We call on all organizations that build on or benefit from Open Source to join us in supporting OIN 2.0 and defending open innovation.”
Frank Sedlarcik
VP, Assistant General Counsel, Research & IP | IBM
“The unparalleled success of Open Source has created a shared responsibility to ensure its future. OIN 2.0 represents a necessary evolution in how we collectively steward this resource. By transitioning to a shared, community-driven funding model, we ensure that OIN remains sustainable, robust, and capable of protecting the Open Source commons.”
Michael Lee
Director, Head of Patents | Google
“When OIN was formed Open Source was promising but still emerging. Some major corporations took it upon themselves to fund the protection of Open Source from patent aggression. Open source today is a critical part of the technology landscape. It has and will continue to proliferate. It is important that companies that derive significant benefits from Open Source contribute to its protection through OIN 2.0. We are pleased with OIN’s efforts to date and look forward to its growing protection in the years to come.”
Fumio Imoto
Managing Director IP Management & Rule Making/Standardization Division | NEC
“Open Source has become more important than many thought possible. OIN has been a steady hand, protecting Linux technologies from patent aggression by corporations and non-practicing entities. To ensure that this community can continue to flourish, OIN is changing its structure so that it has the resources to protect new additions to the Linux system in the future. We are pleased with OIN’s pivot and encourage all companies that value open source to participate in OIN 2.0”
Jako Eleveld
Head of IP Licensing | Philips
“Red Hat has long believed that collaboration, transparency, and shared innovation are the cornerstones of Open Source — and that they must be protected. Open Invention Network has been essential in safeguarding Open Source from patent threats, and OIN 2.0 takes this mission to new frontiers by proactively defending the next wave of open technologies set to shape future innovations. We urge all companies that rely on Open Source to join OIN 2.0 now.”
Chris Wright
CTO | Red Hat
“Through its efforts Open Invention Network has built a patent non-aggression zone for the Open Source community and stifled patent attacks on community members based on suspect patents – paving the way for continued open source innovation. As Open Source continues to grow, we need OIN more than ever. OIN is evolving so that all OIN 2.0 companies will share both the benefits and funding responsibility for the continuation of its important patent cross license, now and as it expands in the future.”
Peter Toto
SVP IP | SONY Corporation of America
“Open Invention Network was founded during a different time, one that demanded that a few companies would fund the protection of Open Source from patent aggression. That vision delivered over 20 years — Open Source is everywhere, and its growth shows no signs of slowing. As OIN evolves its structure to ensure long-term sustainability, we support its shift to broader community participation in funding. It’s time for more companies that rely on Open Source to support OIN as it continues its mission through OIN 2.0.”
Andy McDonald
Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary | SUSE
“Open Source has become an integral tool in software development. By collaborating in the field of intellectual property, OIN participants will continue to support the advancement of software development and further protect the Open Source community.”
Yosuke Iida
General Manager of the IP Division | Toyota
OIN 2.0 Associate &
Community Member Perspectives
“The Open Invention Network (OIN) has long served as a critical shield for the Open Source software ecosystem, deterring patent aggression through collective defense. With the introduction of the OIN 2.0 license, that mission is not only preserved — it’s future-proofed. By modernizing its legal framework to address evolving licensing models and emerging technologies, OIN 2.0 ensures the community can continue to innovate freely, without fear of patent ambush. In an era of increasing IP uncertainty, OIN remains the cornerstone of patent non-aggression in Open Source.”
柯晓鹏 (Sean Ke)
Patent Legal Director | Alibaba Group
“Canon has been a long-standing member of the Open Invention Network community. The organization has been instrumental in safeguarding open source software from patent aggression, thus enabling significant, shared innovation at foundational levels. As OIN transitions to a shared funding model, we are committed to continuing our support for its critical mission of providing patent protection, expanding the community, and mitigating patent threats to an open source ecosystem that has become vital for every business sector.”
Hideki Sanatake
Managing Executive Officer, Group Executive, IP & Legal | Canon
“Canonical has been an Associate Member of the Open Invention Network since 2010, and in that time we’ve watched OIN evolve into a community of more than 4,000 members committed to safeguarding Open Source. OIN has helped protect OSS from patent aggression, curb the influence of NPEs, and unlock the corporate investment that continues to reshape the technology landscape. We’re proud to join OIN 2.0. As we look ahead, the protection and confidence OIN brings to the Open Source community are more essential than ever.”
Mark Shuttleworth
CEO | Canonical
“We’re pleased to see OIN build on its successful foundation and expand its OSS mandate to include new technologies, particularly AI. We need more efforts like this to support the accelerated pace of innovation.”
Josh Death
VP IP & Ideation | TD Bank
“There have been many businesses and institutions that have been instrumental in Open Source’s broad adoption. Somewhere near the top of that list is Open Invention Network. OIN has enabled businesses to confidently invest their resources in Open Source development, projects, and use. Without OIN to help protect the Open Source community from patent aggression, its growth would not be as great. We encourage all companies to join OIN 2.0 now.”
Jim Zemlin
Executive Director | The Linux Foundation
“When Open Invention Network was formed, open source software was only just being considered for use by major corporations and governments. Today it is vital to the global economy. We are pleased to support OIN’s continued activities in clearing patent risk in open source as it expands into new technologies. This shift will help the open source community build upon its remarkable track record of innovation.”
Justin Colannino
Assistant General Counsel: Open Source / Standards / Open ML | Microsoft
“Innovation for freedom defines our spirit and embodies our values at OVHcloud. In alignment with this, we have offered Open Source platforms for years to provide reversible solutions with no vendor lock-in. The Open Invention Network is a key player working to keep Open Source software free from patent and IP threats which could limit its adoption and scope. We have already achieved a great deal with the network and look forward to the impact OIN 2.0 will have — and would encourage organizations everywhere to join and support this initiative, enabling a fair and collaborative Open Source ecosystem.”
Miroslaw Klaba
R&D Director | OVHcloud
“Open Source Software plays an important role in Yokogawa Electric’s digital transformation initiatives and the next generation of industrial automation and control systems. By joining OIN 2.0, we are reaffirming our long-standing commitment to open innovation and to supporting the collaborative ecosystems that drive technological progress across industries. OIN 2.0 provides an important framework for patent risk mitigation at a time when open source is expanding rapidly into critical infrastructure, industrial IoT, and advanced automation—areas where trust, sustainability, and long-term innovation are essential. We welcome continued collaboration among organizations that rely on open source to help ensure its responsible and sustainable growth.”
Nobuo Tanaka
General Manager IP & Design Center Marketing Headquarters | Yokogawa Electric Corporation
