Open Invention Network

The Open Invention Network LLC is an intellectual property company, which was set up in 2005 to protect the Linux community through the use of software patents. The patents that are owned by the Open Invention Network are made available for use by other companies on the understanding that the receiving company will not "assert" its patents against the Linux community. By managing the Linux intellectual property in this way, the network intends to promote the ecosystem surrounding Linux in order that there is more choice and innovation in the global IT marketplace. The availability of software patents also means that companies will be prepared to invest in the future development of Linux.

Part of the Network's purposes is to protect Linux from so-called "patent-trolls". A patent-troll is a company that buys up patents with the intention of gaining revenue by finding and suing people or organisations that infringe those patents. Sponsors of the Open Invention Network include: IBM, NEC, Novell, Philips, Red Hat and Sony. ( openinventionnetwork.com)