Google protects Microsoft's Linux

Google has announced support for the Microsoft patent-based Linux operating system, becoming the first licensee user to join the Open Invention Network (OIN).



Founded in 2005, OIN is a non-profit company that deals with obtaining and managing patents for open source software.



Google and OIN announced this event at the LinuxWorld conference, which takes place this week in San Francisco.

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OIN hopes that Google becoming a licensee will lead other big and small companies to license holders. According to Jerry Rosenthal, CEO of OIN, Google is very keen on the success of Linux, as he added that Google has now moved from words to deeds.



In his blog, Chris DiBona, a free software manager at Google, described how much Google relies on Linux.



“From the moment Google began its journey, Linux has provided us with the strength and flexibility that allows us to serve millions of users around the world,” DiBona writes. Joining OIN allows companies like Google to pay less attention to licensing issues and focus on software development, and is a “legitimate equivalent of a deep and relaxing breath.” He also added that “Google is confident that innovations implemented in Linux will contribute to the development of this OS if developers will be able to share their knowledge without hindrance.”



The likelihood that Linux is at risk has appeared in May of this year, when Microsoft openly stated that Linux infringes the 235 patents owned by the company.



At the moment, OIN has acquired more than 100 patents and patented applications, information about which can be viewed on its website . Patents cover a wide range of technologies such as: operating systems, e-commerce and databases. The first acquisition of the organization cost her $ 15 million. For this money, the patent portfolio of the e-commerce service provider CommerceOne was acquired. Rosenthal said that OIN's patrons financed him so that he had the opportunity to “buy up patents to infinity,” and the amount of money that the organization has already spent on its actions does not even represent the minimum share of the amount the organization has.



Based on: Computer World