What Open Invention Network does

Open Invention Network (OIN) is a private intellectual property company founded in 2005 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, that operates the world's largest patent non-aggression community dedicated to protecting open source software. OIN's core offering is a patent cross-license framework binding more than 4,100 member organizations—collectively holding over 3 million patents and applications—into a mutual non-aggression pact covering the Linux System, which currently spans more than 5,100 open source packages across Tables 0-13 including the Linux kernel, cloud computing (Kubernetes, Eclipse), modern programming languages (Go, Python, Rust), automotive systems, security, and networking. Members agree not to assert patents against one another on protected open source technologies, providing an estimated $400K-$700K in annual defensive value per member against average patent defense costs of $4 million per case.

OIN's technology and product stack centers on the OIN 2.0 License Agreement, the Linux System definition maintained through periodic Table updates, and the patent cross-license registry. In January 2026, OIN launched OIN 2.0 with its first-ever tiered participation fee model alongside Linux System Table 13, which added 650+ new open source packages including AI development technologies. In March 2026, OIN partnered with Software Heritage to preserve more than 900 million lines of source code from the Linux System in a publicly searchable archive, providing prior art verification and protecting against link rot or repository shutdowns. Leadership includes CEO Keith Bergelt (recognized in IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders 2026) and Global Ambassador Shane Coughlan, appointed February 2026 to drive OIN 2.0 adoption.

OIN's business model combines a freemium structure with tiered annual participation fees. Companies and individuals with less than $10 million in revenue receive free membership, while larger enterprises pay tiered annual fees scaled to their revenue. The organization was originally capitalized with a $160 million investment from founding members including IBM/RedHat, Philips, NEC, Sony, and SUSE, and now protects a broad cross-section of industries including technology, automotive (Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Panasonic Automotive, Yokogawa), consumer electronics (Sony, Midea), and industrial automation, with members collectively generating over $10 trillion in revenue. Distribution is direct via the OIN website through self-serve enrollment and electronic signature of the OIN 2.0 License Agreement.

Name

Open Invention Network

Legal name

Open Invention Network LLC

Website

https://openinventionnetwork.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Open Invention Network operates the world's largest patent non-aggression community for open source software, binding 4,100+ member organizations through a cross-license covering 5,100+ Linux System packages and 900+ million lines of preserved source code.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patent Cross-Licensing Services

NAICS

Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) (533)

SIC

Patent Owners & Lessors (6794), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

IP Compliance, Anti-Counterfeiting & Enforcement (BPAHAMAK)

Keywords

• Patent cross-licensing
• Open source protection
• Patent non-aggression
• Intellectual property licensing
• Linux patent defense

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. OIN 2.0 Membership Fees: OIN operates a tiered annual participation fee model. Companies and individuals with less than $10 million in revenue receive free membership under the expanded Linux Table 13. Companies with more than $10 million in revenue pay tiered annual fees scaled to their revenue size. The original OIN was funded by a $160 million investment from founding members (IBM/RedHat, Philips, NEC, Sony, SUSE, Google, Toyota).
2. Member Value Proposition: OIN membership delivers an estimated $400,000-$700,000 in annual value per member, providing patent protection against litigation threats including NPEs and patent assertion entities. Defense costs average $4 million per case and over $5 million when claims exceed $25 million.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Open Invention Network (OIN) operates the world's largest patent non-aggression community, providing patent cross-license protection for open source software, particularly the Linux System. Members sign the OIN 2.0 License Agreement to gain freedom from patent litigation across 5,100+ open source packages. The organization offers tiered membership (free for entities under $10M revenue, paid tiers for larger organizations) and preserves 900+ million lines of source code through its Software Heritage partnership.

Product overview

Open Invention Network (OIN) operates the world's largest patent non-aggression community and cross-license for open source software. The core offering consists of OIN 2.0 (the next-generation patent protection framework with tiered participation), the Linux System (defining scope of protected open source technologies through Tables 0-14), and the patent cross-license (binding 4,100+ members to not sue each other on patents covering protected technologies). OIN 2.0 includes expanded Table 13 coverage for 650+ new packages including AI-relevant languages (Python, Go, Rust), cloud computing, Kubernetes, and automotive technologies. A Software Heritage archive integration preserves 900+ million lines of source code for legal certainty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Linux System Table 13: The patent protection coverage definition for the OIN 2.0 License Agreement, covering over 5,100 open source software packages including technologies for cloud computing, security, networking, automotive systems, and modern languages such as Go, Python and Rust.

Products and services

• OIN 2.0 License Agreement The OIN 2.0 License Agreement is the core legal instrument members sign to join the patent non-aggression community, providing freedom from patent litigation when using Linux and open source technologies. It introduces a tiered participation fee structure based on company revenue.
• Linux System Definition The Linux System defines the scope of OIN's patent cross-license, encompassing the open source technologies and packages protected under OIN's patent non-aggression framework. It is structured as Tables 0-13 that specify which software packages are covered by the cross-license.
• Patent Cross-License Framework The world's largest active patent cross-license, with 4,100+ member organizations collectively holding more than 3 million patents and applications. Members agree not to sue each other on patents related to covered open source technologies within the Linux System.
• OIN-Owned Patent Portfolio The portfolio of patents owned directly by OIN that are licensed to members as part of the broader cross-license framework, providing additional defensive capability against patent assertion entities targeting open source users.

Quantifiable outcome

• Defense costs averaging $4 million per case & over $5 million when claims exceed $25 million - OIN membership provides protection against these costs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Software HeritagecoreTechnology or Integration · 18 May 2026OIN partnered with Software Heritage (the world's largest public software archive) to preserve source code from the OIN 2.0 Linux System, encompassing over 5,100 open source software packages and more than 900 million lines of code. The archiving ensures long-term accessibility and traceability, protecting against link rot and repository shutdowns while providing greater legal certainty for adopters. Newly added packages are fully archived, reinforcing trust and transparency.
• Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOIN teamed with Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) and the Linux Foundation to launch the Asian Legal Network (ALN), providing a forum for sharing knowledge and best practices regarding Free Software legal affairs relevant to market participants in Asia.
• Linux FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOIN partnered with the Linux Foundation and FSFE to launch the Asian Legal Network. Additionally, OIN operates within the broader Linux and open source ecosystem, with many shared members and aligned missions for open source protection.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• MPEG LA: MPEG LA is one of the largest independent patent pool administrators, licensing essential patents for standards such as MPEG, HEVC, and AV1. Operates in the same broader IP-licensing category as OIN but focused on standards-essential patents rather than open-source non-aggression.
• InterDigital: InterDigital is a publicly traded R&D and patent licensing company focused on wireless, video, and AI technologies. Sits in the broader IP-licensing incumbent category with comparable patent-administration and licensing-revenue economics, though without the open-source community orientation of OIN.
• Acacia Research: Acacia Research is a publicly traded patent licensing and enforcement firm that acquires and licenses patent portfolios. Sits on the offensive/transactional side of the IP services spectrum OIN participates in, making it adjacent rather than direct, but operating within the same patent value chain.
• Via Licensing Alliance: Via Licensing Alliance administers patent pools across audio, wireless, and other technology categories, providing joint licensing and royalty administration. A broader incumbent operating patent-pool infrastructure analogous to OIN's cross-license mechanism, but for standards-based technologies.

Direct peers

• Unified Patents: Unified Patents operates a patent risk mitigation platform combining defensive patent acquisitions, prior-art challenges, and zone-based deterrence for technology companies. Highly comparable to OIN's defensive role for technology ecosystems and an active competitor for the same member base.
• LOT Network: LOT Network is a defensive patent license pool whose members agree not to assert portfolio patents against other members — functionally analogous to OIN's cross-license model, but with broader industry coverage rather than an open-source-only scope. Both compete for the same large-tech defensive patent value proposition.

Others

• Linux Foundation: Linux Foundation is the primary open-source foundations umbrella supporting Linux and adjacent projects and shares members and ecosystem partnership with OIN (including the Asian Legal Network launch). Not a competitor but a closely-coupled ecosystem enabler for the open-source stack OIN protects.
• Open Source Initiative: Open Source Initiative (OSI) is the steward of the Open Source Definition and approves open-source licenses. Operates in the same open-source IP/standards ecosystem as OIN, focusing on license definition rather than patent defense, but a relevant ecosystem stakeholder.

Regional players

• Sisvel: Sisvel is a European-headquartered patent pool administrator operating programs in wireless, video coding, and other technology areas. Compares to OIN as a patent-pool operator but serves primarily European and global standards-essential markets rather than open-source defensive licensing.

Emerging players

• OpenChain: OpenChain is a Linux Foundation project defining open-source license compliance standards for software supply chains. Adjacent to OIN's mission of open-source protection, with a compliance/process orientation rather than patent defensive coverage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/open-invention-network
• Facebookfacebook.com/openinventionnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Open Invention Network