X.Org Foundation joins Open Invention Network (OIN) patent non-aggression community

[Alan Coopersmith]

The X.Org Foundation has joined the Open Invention Network (OIN) patent
non-aggression community in order to better protect the future of the X
Window System.   OIN has granted the Foundation a license to use of all
patents they control or which are covered by agreements with other OIN
community members and licensees, in exchange for a pledge from the Foundation
to license back any patents which the Foundation may come into possession of.
(Currently the Foundation owns no patents, but if we ever do, they will be
covered by this agreement.)

This will help protect the Foundation's resources and donations made to it
against patent claims, allowing the Foundation to devote those resources and
donations to the improvement of the window system itself.  The OIN definition
of the "Linux System" for which patent claims are covered by the agreement
has long included X Window System software packages, and thus the X.Org
Foundation receives coverage for many of 1the software packages we release.

Due to the reciprocal nature of the OIN agreement, the Foundation can only
enter to this agreement on behalf of the Foundation, as we cannot pledge
anyone else's patents to the OIN community.  Any vendors, distributors, or
contributing organizations which wish to obtain similar protection should
contact OIN directly about joining the OIN non-aggression community on their
own, as described on http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/pat_license.php .

In order to more broadly protect the open source desktop software systems,
the X.Org Foundation is also asking our members and contributors to
participate in the defensive patent programs sponsored by OIN, the Software
Freedom Law Center, and the Linux Foundation, under the Linux Defenders
umbrella, including Defensive Publication to establish prior art citations
for new techniques, and helping the X.Org Foundation locate and publish
prior art references from our archives of computer graphics and window system
research and development stretching back over 25 years, through the original
X Consortium back to the project's founding at MIT.   Those who wish to help
can learn about Defensive Publications at http://www.defensivepublications.org/
and can contact the X.Org Foundation Board at board at foundation.x.org to be
included in discussions about how to best utilize the X development archives.

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The X.Org Foundation is a non-profit public charity dedicated to supporting
and defending the ongoing development of open source graphics and window
system software, centered around the X Window System, one of the oldest and
most successful open source software projects in existence.   The X Window
System software has become the standard graphical interface across Linux &
Unix workstations and servers, and has been included in a growing number of
mobile phones and tablets in recent years.   More information about the X.Org
Foundation and X Window System may be found at http://www.x.org/ .

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Open Invention Network® is an intellectual property company that was formed
to promote Linux by using patents to create a collaborative environment. It
promotes a positive, fertile ecosystem for Linux, which in turns drives
innovation and choice in the global marketplace. This helps ensure the
continuation of innovation that has benefited software vendors, customers,
emerging markets and investors.   More information about OIN is available at
http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/ .

	       	 	--------------------

Conceptualized by Open Invention Network and co-sponsored with the Software
Freedom Law Center and The Linux Foundation, Linux Defenders is a first-of-
its-kind program which combines free online intellectual property (IP)
publication with defensive patent tools to provide the Linux and open source
community an effective vehicle to reduce future patent concerns.  Linux
Defenders serves as a portal for the Linux and broader open source community
and seamlessly links to the Peer to Patent and Post-Issue Peer to Patent
platforms that New York Law School manages.   The Linux Defenders web site
is located at http://linuxdefenders.org/ .

-- 
	-Alan Coopersmith-              alan.coopersmith at oracle.com
	 X.Org Foundation, Board of Directors  -  http://www.x.org/