openNews
09-24-2010, 08:39 PM
Mozilla is the latest company to join IBM and Red hat in OIN which aims at protecting the Linux environment by acquiring licence patents to stop offenders from asserting their own patents against the Linux System.
Wasn't this on the cards or what? The Open Invention Network (http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/) (OIN) has signed Mozilla as a licencee. This is a least surprising move as Mozilla's long-standing commitment to open source software and support for the Linux platform is well known. With this signing, the OIN is extending the patent community of the Linux operating system to Mozilla. Getting Mozilla within its community is no doubt a high-profile endorsement of the OIN.
OIN is a Durham-based organisation launched in 2005 by Red Hat, IBM, NEC, Novell, Philips and Sony. These are companies that rely on Linux as a key aspects of their business. The OIN acts as a defensive patent pool for the Linux environment while supporting and promoting the open source operating system. One of OIN’s main functions is to acquire licence patents, and it has acquired a number of patents in its portfolio to protect what it defines as a Linux System. Patents owned by the OIN are available under licence, royalty-free, to any company, organisation or individual in exchange for committing not to assert their own patents against Linux or Linux users.
According to MarketWire (http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Mozilla-Joins-Open-Invention-Network-as-Licensee-1322288.htm), Keith Bergelt, CEO of Open Invention Network, said, “Mozilla is globally respected as a prominent open source project and a key public benefit for users that want to experience the Internet using cutting-edge technology. As such, we are pleased to welcome Mozilla into the OIN community of licencees. By signing our licence, Mozilla affirms that it values the continued openness of Linux and demonstrates its willingness to protect Linux. We applaud the company's foresight in taking this step to support both itself and the principles of open source.”
Harvey Anderson, VP and general counsel, Mozilla wrote in a blog-post (http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Mozilla-Joins-Open-Invention-Network-as-Licensee-1322288.htm), "This doesn't mean we're suddenly enthused about patents in any way, but OIN is doing some good work and, I believe that any protections that they afford Mozilla are on the whole more positive and outweigh reservations about the patent system".
Mozilla is a company which mostly devotes itself to open Web and isn't in the business of filing patent lawsuits. So, I am a bit confused, why such a strict commitment is needed from an organisation like Mozilla. But, then again, the company's participation in such an organisation is still significant.
Firefox has become an integral part of most Linux run computers as its Web browser. So, OIN will be viewing Firefox as an important part of its software stack and will be committed to defending it against litigation.
Source: http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=51198&magid=11 (http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=51198&magid=11)
Wasn't this on the cards or what? The Open Invention Network (http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/) (OIN) has signed Mozilla as a licencee. This is a least surprising move as Mozilla's long-standing commitment to open source software and support for the Linux platform is well known. With this signing, the OIN is extending the patent community of the Linux operating system to Mozilla. Getting Mozilla within its community is no doubt a high-profile endorsement of the OIN.
OIN is a Durham-based organisation launched in 2005 by Red Hat, IBM, NEC, Novell, Philips and Sony. These are companies that rely on Linux as a key aspects of their business. The OIN acts as a defensive patent pool for the Linux environment while supporting and promoting the open source operating system. One of OIN’s main functions is to acquire licence patents, and it has acquired a number of patents in its portfolio to protect what it defines as a Linux System. Patents owned by the OIN are available under licence, royalty-free, to any company, organisation or individual in exchange for committing not to assert their own patents against Linux or Linux users.
According to MarketWire (http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Mozilla-Joins-Open-Invention-Network-as-Licensee-1322288.htm), Keith Bergelt, CEO of Open Invention Network, said, “Mozilla is globally respected as a prominent open source project and a key public benefit for users that want to experience the Internet using cutting-edge technology. As such, we are pleased to welcome Mozilla into the OIN community of licencees. By signing our licence, Mozilla affirms that it values the continued openness of Linux and demonstrates its willingness to protect Linux. We applaud the company's foresight in taking this step to support both itself and the principles of open source.”
Harvey Anderson, VP and general counsel, Mozilla wrote in a blog-post (http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Mozilla-Joins-Open-Invention-Network-as-Licensee-1322288.htm), "This doesn't mean we're suddenly enthused about patents in any way, but OIN is doing some good work and, I believe that any protections that they afford Mozilla are on the whole more positive and outweigh reservations about the patent system".
Mozilla is a company which mostly devotes itself to open Web and isn't in the business of filing patent lawsuits. So, I am a bit confused, why such a strict commitment is needed from an organisation like Mozilla. But, then again, the company's participation in such an organisation is still significant.
Firefox has become an integral part of most Linux run computers as its Web browser. So, OIN will be viewing Firefox as an important part of its software stack and will be committed to defending it against litigation.
Source: http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=51198&magid=11 (http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=51198&magid=11)