OIN license

ndowens · 2010-12-16 22:57:10

I was curious if Arch is going to become a licensee from OIN. I have even though I am just an individual user and no developer of any software, figured atleast it might protect me. I just noticed Gentoo has joined, thought it would be a good thing if Arch does or has.

Xyne · 2010-12-17 00:02:52

I had never heard of OIN before reading your post so I had to search for it. Please edit your post to include a link to the site and some information about it rather than simply assuming that everyone knows what it is.

I have no opinion about joining it as I haven't researched the issue, but my initial impulse is that such things just further encourage the culture of patents and the retardation of innovation they now entail. I understand that it may be necessary to combat the portfolios of patent trolls, but I'm still hoping that we can all find better solutions for all parties involved, minus the leeches who contribute nothing yet demand payment for everything.

Julius2 · 2010-12-17 13:55:07

Xyne: Some info (from my own gathering of information): OIN ("Open Invention Network") is an M$-controlled patent coalition. Member organizations are allowed to use each other's patents, but only patents allowed to be spread into the OIN. So basically, it's useless.

Agent69 · 2010-12-17 14:37:25

There is a MS controlled patent organization that will be getting the Novell patents but that organization is not OIN.

From Wikipedia:

The Open Invention Network (OIN) is a company that acquires patents and licenses them royalty free to entities which, in turn, agree not to assert their own patents against Linux and Linux-related systems and applications.[1]
Based in Durham, NC, the company was founded on November 10, 2005 by IBM, Novell, Philips, Red Hat, and Sony. NEC subsequently became a member. Keith Bergelt is the chief executive of the company. Bergelt had previously served as President and CEO of Paradox Capital, LLC.

And from a recent Groklaw article about OIN, Microsoft, and the patents in question:

I have some important news for you. It's about those 882 Novell patents that are being sold to a Microsoft-organized consortium in connection with the sale of Novell to Attachmate. I've been worrying about those patents, and I was wondering what happens to Novell's license to the Open Invention Network after the sale. So I took the time to find out. And it's very good news.
Here's how it works. The patents of OIN members and licensees are licensed to each other royalty-free in perpetuity. Even on a sale, the license remains in force for all pre-existing members/licensees. If you are a member/licensee of OIN prior to the closing on the Novell deal, then, you are covered. The proposed closing date is January 23rd, so you still have time to join OIN and get the benefit of the license to those patents. Then, if Microsoft shows up at your door, you can say, "Thanks, but no thanks. I already have a license." So here's what it all adds up to, by my reading: if ever you were thinking of joining the Open Invention Network, this is the sensible time to do it, as long as you get it done before this sale closes and that door shuts with respect to the Novell patents.

PJ also says that joining is totally free. I don't know if joining would actually benefit Arch but you can read the whole Groklaw article here:

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?stor … 6205654916

Mr.Elendig · 2010-12-17 19:38:44

Already discussed on arch-general

Arch Linux

#1 2010-12-16 22:57:10

OIN license

#2 2010-12-17 00:02:52

Re: OIN license

#3 2010-12-17 13:55:07

Re: OIN license

#4 2010-12-17 14:37:25

Re: OIN license

#5 2010-12-17 19:38:44

Re: OIN license

Board footer