Durham, NC (December 4, 2018) -Open Invention Network (OIN), the largest patent non-aggression community in history, announced today that Heidelberger Drucksmachinen (Heidelberg) has joined as a community member. As a global leader in prepress, printing and finishing, service and consumables, and software solutions, with a strong focus on a digital future, Heidelberg is demonstrating its commitment to open source software as an enabler of innovation across the printing industry.

“Heidelberg’s decision to join OIN is indicative of the global trend towards increased value creation through software, not only in the printing industry but across all industrials. Forward looking industrial companies realize that open source software is the most efficient way to transform their business through software,” said Keith Bergelt, CEO of OIN. “We’ve clearly seen this in the automotive industry with Automotive Grade Linux, and there is promise in energy via LF Energy. We are pleased that an industry thought leader such as Heidelberg, which is driving the digital transformation of the printing industry, is joining OIN.”

“For more than 160 years, Heidelberg has been a leading provider of a spectrum of printing technologies used by the most respected print shops in the industry. We recognize the value of open source innovation in our firmware and increasingly sophisticated document management systems,” said Christof Haust, Head of Intellectual Property Consulting at Heidelberger Drucksmachinen, AG. “By joining OIN, we are demonstrating our continued commitment to innovation, and supporting it with patent non-aggression in Linux and adjacent technologies.”

OIN’s community practices patent non-aggression in core Linux and adjacent open source technologies by cross-licensing Linux System patents to one another on a royalty-free basis. The zone of cross-licensing is called OIN’s Linux System, a list of fundamental Linux software packages. Patents owned by Open Invention Network are similarly licensed royalty-free to any organization which agrees not to assert its patents against the Linux System. Organizations can join the OIN community online at http://www.j-oin.net/.

About Heidelberg

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen (“Heidelberg”) has been a reliable and highly innovative partner to the global printing industry for many years. For more than 160 years we have stood for quality and future viability. This means that we are a company with a long tradition, but at the same time we help define the future trends in our industry thanks to state-of-the-art technologies and innovative business ideas.

With a market share of more than 40 percent for sheetfed offset presses, we have consolidated our position as the printing industry’s market and technology leader. Consolidated sales amounted to over € 2.4 billion in the 2017 / 2018 financial year.

For more information, visit http://www.heidelberg.com.

About Open Invention Network

Open Invention Network (OIN) is the largest patent non-aggression community in history and supports freedom of action in Linux as a key element of open source software (OSS). Patent non-aggression in core technologies is a cultural norm within OSS, so that the litmus test for authentic behavior in the OSS community includes OIN membership. Funded by Google, IBM, NEC, Philips, Red Hat, Sony, SUSE and Toyota, OIN has more than 2,800 community members and owns more than 1,300 global patents and applications. The OIN patent license and member cross-licenses are available royalty-free to any party that joins the OIN community.

For more information, visit https://www.openinventionnetwork.com.

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Media-Only Contact:
Ed Schauweker
Avid Public Relations for Open Invention Network
ed@avidpr.com
+1 (703) 963-5238