Speaker(s): Keith Bergelt
As the most powerful and economically impactful invention modality to come into being in the technology sector, Linux is migrating from serving as a back office transaction processing platform to a dominant position as the de facto standard operating system for mobile devices to its ultimate assumption of a majority share of the desktop operating system market. In order to achieve this type of widespread success, the vendors, developers, distributors and users of Linux will require freedom to operate and safe passage in a world where patent trolls have become more entrenched and seemingly indiscriminate patent assertion and litigation have become commonplace. Open Invention Network, as the guardian of Linux, is expanding its role from acquiring and licensing (royalty free and fully paid up) key patents to the Linux community to supporting a series of other initiatives to ensure patents in the hands of Trolls and Strategics alike have limited impact on Linux's advance. This presentation will discuss OIN's strategy in neutralizing the threats along the patent frontier and accomplishing its overarching goal of 'making the world safe for Linux.