[tdf-announce] The Document Foundation joins Open Invention Network

The Document Foundation joins Open Invention Network

The Internet, December 20, 2010 - The Document Foundation has joined the 
Open Invention Network (OIN), to further extend the free software 
ecosystems. By becoming a licensee, The Document Foundation - developer 
of LibreOffice, a free office suite for personal and corporate 
productivity - has joined the growing list of organizations that 
recognize the importance of participating in the Open Invention Network, 
in order to protect the free software ecosystem from the risks 
associated to software patents.

"The Document Foundation is a major free software project, and 
LibreOffice a key office suite for creating, managing and sharing 
documents. By becoming a licensee of the Open Invention Network, we 
fight software patents - which stifle innovation and encourage predatory 
business practices - and at the same time we improve the protection of 
our software projects," said Charles Schulz, Member of TDF Steering 
Committee.

Patents owned by Open Invention Network are available royalty-free to 
whichever company, institution or individual that agrees not to assert 
its patents against free software. Through this network of developers, 
distributors, sellers, resellers and end-users that license its patent 
portfolio, Open Invention Network is creating a supportive and shielded 
ecosystem to ensure the growth and adoption of free and open source 
software. This enables OIN licensees like The Document Foundation to 
make significant investments, helping to fuel economic growth.

OIN has amassed a broad portfolio of patents, including patents held by 
nominees on its behalf. These patents are available to all licensees as 
part of the patent portfolio that OIN is creating in support of free 
software. The license agreement is at 
http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/pat_license_agreement.php.

The home of The Document Foundation is at http://www.documentfoundation.org.

The Document Foundation has the mission to facilitate the evolution of 
the OOo Community into a new open, independent, and meritocratic 
organization within the next few months. An independent Foundation is a 
better match to the values of contributors, users and supporters, and 
will enable a more effective, efficient, transparent, and inclusive 
Community. TDF will protect past investments by building on the 
achievements of the first decade, will encourage wide participation in 
the Community, and will co-ordinate activity across the Community.


Media Contacts

Florian Effenberger (Germany)
Mobile: +49 151 14424108 - E-mail: floeff@documentfoundation.org

Olivier Hallot (Brazil)
Mobile: +55 21 88228812 - E-mail: olivier.hallot@documentfoundation.org

Charles H. Schulz (France)
Mobile: +33 6 98655424 - E-mail: charles.schulz@documentfoundation.org

Italo Vignoli (Italy)
Mobile: +39 348 5653829 - E-mail: italo.vignoli@documentfoundation.org

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