Durham, NC (July 9, 2013) Open Invention Network (OIN) has furthered its mission to enable and protect Linux by expanding the Linux System technologies covered by its protective network of royalty-free cross-licenses and by its defensive patent portfolio to include nearly three hundred new Linux software packages. These additions contain a number of packages from notable technologies and projects such as Python (e.g., Django, PyPy, and Twisted), MongoDB, OpenStack, Ruby, and webOS. This new coverage builds upon the two updates to OIN’s Linux System definition in 2012, during which OIN added more than 700 new software packages to its Linux System.
This latest action brings to 2173 the total number of Linux software packages now protected by OIN.
“This is a broad based enhancement that reflects and keeps pace with Linux’s rapid market expansion,” said Keith Bergelt, CEO of Open Invention Network. “We’ve included new packages in everything from cloud to mobile to middleware and database technology. At the same time, we’ve updated version numbers on nearly 600 existing packages while making other noteworthy improvements such as adding the LibreOffice open source productivity suite. We are pleased to offer this enhanced value to OIN’s growing community of licensees.”
Like the 2012 updates, this expansion will beneficially broaden OIN’s patent cross-license coverage, further encourage OIN community members to share Linux-related technologies and offer an incentive for Linux developers, distributors, sellers, resellers and end-users to continue to collaborate around and invest in Linux. Linux software has become so pervasive that it now powers many every day activities, from making a phone call or credit card purchase to using cloud-based services such as Facebook and Twitter.
OIN’s patents are available royalty-free to any company, institution or individual who agrees not to assert patents against OIN licensees who use and distribute the Linux System, as defined at http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/pat_linuxdef.php. With its license agreement (http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/pat_license_agreement.php), OIN disseminates protections, including patent cross-licenses and releases, among its licensees, which encourages them to collaborate.
About Open Invention Network
Open Invention Network is a collaborative enterprise that enables innovation in open source and an increasingly vibrant ecosystem around Linux. It does this by acquiring and licensing patents, influencing behaviors and policy and protecting the integrity of the ecosystem through strategic programs such as Linux Defenders. OIN enables the growth and continuation of open source software by fostering a healthy Linux ecosystem of investors, vendors, developers and users
Open Invention Network has considerable industry backing. It was launched in 2005 by IBM, NEC, Novell, Philips, Red Hat and Sony. OIN has received supplemental financial support from Canonical. For more information, visit https://www.openinventionnetwork.com.