Microsoft Joins Open Invention Network to Support Linux

Microsoft has announced its decision to join the Open Invention Network (OIN), a platform that provides free access to patents and helps protect Linux and other open-source projects from patent lawsuits. As a result, participants will be able to access 60,000 of Microsoft’s patents without having to pay royalties for their use.

Microsoft’s involvement in this project is expected to increase the diversity of supported technologies and accelerate innovation. It’s no secret that patent rights issues often slow down development, so the participation of a major company like Microsoft in OIN is a significant step forward.

Other corporations are also part of the Open Invention Network. These include Google, IBM, NEC, Philips, Sony, and Toyota, as well as Linux distribution developers such as Red Hat, Canonical, and SUSE.

In an interview with ZDNet, Microsoft executive Scott Guthrie stated that the company’s main goal was to protect open-source projects from lawsuits. However, Microsoft’s actions can also be seen as an attempt to improve its image and convince the community of its good intentions—especially considering concerns raised by, for example, the company’s acquisition of GitHub.

In any case, this kind of collaboration sets a positive tone for the entire developer community.