Durham, NC (November 20, 2025) – Open Invention Network (OIN), the only institution focused on mitigating patent risk in Open Source software, announced today that Panasonic Automotive Systems has joined as a community member. As a leading Tier-1 technology and infotainment provider to the automotive industry, Panasonic Automotive Systems is reinforcing its commitment to Open Source as an enabler of comfortable, safe and secure automobiles.
“Advanced automotive technology and connectivity are propelling ongoing innovation within the automotive industry. These innovations make the automobiles more integrated, safe and secure. Open source is a key driver of these capabilities,” said Keith Bergelt, CEO of Open Invention Network. “As a global leader in advanced automotive technology, we are pleased that Panasonic Automotive Systems is committed to patent non-aggression in core Linux and adjacent Open Source technologies.”
“Panasonic Automotive Systems has been continually and substantively contributing to multiple OSS communities, such as Automotive Grade Linux, in our efforts to develop OSS technologies. These efforts include leading the standardization of VirtIO—an key virtualization technology for Software Defined Vehicles (SDV). We have also contributed to technological advancements in the industry overall. In joining the OIN, we are supporting the strong development of Linux and other Open Source technologies, and further strengthening our contributions to OSS communities. We will also move forward with making further use of OSS to accelerate the development of the advanced in-vehicle software that is needed in the SDV era.” said Masashige Mizuyama, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Panasonic Automotive Systems, Ltd. “We are pleased to join the Open Invention Network and support its role in protecting Open Source software.”
As a community, OIN members practice patent non-aggression in core Linux and adjacent Open Source technologies by cross-licensing Linux System patents to one another. As Open Source has become pervasive, OIN’s Linux System is now over 4,500 open source software packages and has evolved to include Linux and adjacent Open Source technologies produced by projects focused on automotive, fintech, mobile communications, computing, cloud, IoT, and embedded, among others. The membership form and the OIN license agreement can be signed online at http://www.j-oin.net/.
About Panasonic Automotive Systems
Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd., (PAS) was launched on April 1, 2022 as an operating company responsible for the automotive systems business in line with the start of the Panasonic Group’s operating company system, and on December 2, 2024 the company moved to a management structure in which 80% of its shares are held by the funds managed by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management, Inc. and 20% by Panasonic Holdings Corporation.
Headquartered in Japan, PAS is a global company with subsidiaries in eight other countries and, as a Tier 1 company, it provides advanced proprietary technologies such as infotainment systems to automakers in Japan and overseas, helping to create comfortable, safe, and secure automobiles. PAS is committed to meeting the expectations of its customers around the world with technologies that stand by people in pursuit of its corporate vision of becoming the “Joy in Motion” design company. To learn more about our company, please visit https://automotive.panasonic.com/en.
About Open Invention Network
Open Invention Network (OIN) is the only institution focused on mitigating patent risk in Open Source software (OSS). OIN maintains the world’s largest and oldest patent cross-license, which offers patent protection coverage defined by its Linux System Definition. By safeguarding against patent threats, OIN has encouraged the adoption of OSS, the most significant driver of innovation in the 21st century. Funded by Google, IBM/Red Hat, NEC, Philips, Sony, SUSE, and Toyota, OIN has over 4,000 global members.
For more information, visit http://www.openinventionnetwork.com.
###
Media-Only Contact:
Ed Schauweker
AVID Public Relations for Open Invention Network
ed@avidpr.com
+1 (703) 963-5238