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Open Invention Network (OIN) expanded the set of open-source technologies covered by its Linux System in June 2024, adding projects across cloud, enterprise, networking, embedded, hardware-development and automotive fields. The Linux System is a defined coverage list in OIN’s patent cross-license—not a Linux distribution. OIN’s current program is OIN 2.0, effective January 27, 2026, with coverage updates continuing under Linux System Table 13.
What OIN added to the Linux System in June 2024
OIN’s June 12, 2024 announcement broadened its coverage beyond core Linux-related technologies. The additions named in the announcement include:
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| Area | Named additions |
|---|---|
| Cloud computing | Istio, Falco, Argo, Grafana and Spire |
| Enterprise computing | Apache Atlas and Apache Solr |
| Networking and automotive | OpenThread, agl-compositor and kukusa.val |
| Embedded technology | Matter and OpenAMP |
| Open-hardware development | Edalize, cocotb, Amaranth and Migen |
These are examples of the projects explicitly named in the 2024 announcement, not a complete list of everything covered today. OIN’s coverage definition changes over time; the applicable Linux System table determines the scope. Read the June 12, 2024 announcement alongside the current Linux System coverage page.
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Does OIN protect Kubernetes and other cloud software?
OIN’s Linux System includes cloud-related software, as the 2024 additions demonstrate, but the announcement does not name Kubernetes as an addition. Do not infer that a project is covered simply because it is commonly associated with Linux or cloud computing. Check the current Linux System definition for the specific project and version or code element at issue. OIN describes the definition as comprising several thousand discrete code elements in its FAQ.
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How the OIN patent cross-license works
OIN members cross-license Linux System patents to one another on a royalty-free basis and commit to patent non-aggression within the covered Linux System. In practical terms, participating organizations share a protection zone for covered code and related functionality, subject to the license’s defined scope and terms. It is not a blanket promise covering every patent, product, or use of open-source software.
The commitments depend on the applicable OIN agreement and the technologies in its Linux System definition. A company evaluating a particular patent or product should review the agreement and the current coverage list rather than treating membership as universal patent clearance. OIN’s FAQ explains the program’s Linux System and patent non-aggression approach.
What changed with OIN 2.0 and Table 13?
OIN 2.0 took effect on January 27, 2026, with Linux System Table 13 and subsequent coverage expansions. OIN describes the updated program as a shared funding model: small businesses, startups and individual developers can participate for free, while medium-sized and large enterprises support the program through tiered annual participation fees. The available information does not specify the fee amounts or the thresholds separating organization sizes; consult OIN for current participation terms.
OIN’s current coverage page says the expanded Linux System protects more than 5,100 open-source packages and applications. That count is time-sensitive and should be understood as OIN’s current homepage figure, not a fixed total guaranteed for every earlier table or date. Review OIN’s Linux System page for the current coverage details and OIN 2.0 information for participation terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How large is OIN’s network?
OIN’s published scale figures have changed over time, so they should be quoted with their dates and sources:
- In 2025, OIN reported more than 4,000 member organizations and more than three million patents and applications.
- In 2026, OIN reported more than 4,100 members and more than three million collectively held patents.
The descriptions are not identical: the 2025 figure refers to patents and applications, while the 2026 figure refers to collectively held patents. OIN’s 2025 anniversary release also reported more than 4,500 software components and platforms at that time; that earlier coverage count should not be substituted for the current package-and-application figure.
What an organization should check before relying on OIN coverage
For a practical assessment, an organization should verify the specific project and relevant coverage entry, its own participation status, and the terms of the agreement it has signed. This is especially important during the transition to OIN 2.0: the existence of an expanded Linux System does not establish that a particular company has signed the current agreement or that every technology it uses falls within the license.
Quick Recap
- Find the relevant project or code element in the current Linux System table and confirm the applicable table version.
- Review whether the organization is a participant and whether it signed the current OIN 2.0 agreement.
- Read the agreement’s patent cross-license and non-aggression terms for the organization’s specific situation.
- For a concrete patent dispute, product clearance question or edge case, obtain legal advice based on the relevant patents, code and agreement.
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