internetnews.com: New Company Launched to Spread Linux

"Five major Linux supporters are backing a new company whose goal is to acquire patents and offer them royalty-free in order to extend open source operating systems worldwide.

"The Open Invention Network (OIN) launched today with undisclosed financial backing from IBM, Novell, Philips, Red Hat and Sony, according to the companies.

"The company's members said they would create an enterprising new model where patents are shared royalty-free 'to any company, institution or individual that agrees not to assert its patents against the Linux operating system or certain Linux-related applications...'"

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