Inkscape has been invited to join as a member of the Open Invention Network. On Tuesday, the Inkscape Board voted in favor. In so doing we pledge to never use patents aggressively against the Linux System. We would never do this of course so the step is merely symbolic, but an important symbol.

We are joining almost 750 projects and companies from the software industry (see http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/licensees.php) in a pledge that covers over 2,100 Open Source packages. This helps to reduce risk on the core Linux System and other middleware technologies.

Valer Mischenko of OIN sums it up: "This is the largest community to address software patent challenges in the world. The idea is: when everybody pledges freedom, there will be no wars."

For more information, please read on, or go to openinventionnetwork.com

Bryce

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: [Inkscape-board] [REFERENDUM] Should Inkscape Join the Open Invention Network?

Resolved:

The Inkscape Project agrees to join as a member of the Open Invention Network. In so doing we pledge to never use patents aggressively against the Linux System.

Votes:

Five votes in favor, none against. Motion passes.

Josh Andler a Johan Engelen a Bryce Harrington a Jon Cruz a Tavmjong Bah a

(Votes not received from Ted Gould and Mental Guy)

http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_name=20140225080118.GB22...

On Sun, Feb 23, 2014 at 11:38:07PM -0800, Bryce Harrington wrote:

Proposal:

[ ] a. Join the Open Invention Network (OIN). Pledge that the Inkscape organization would never use patents aggressively against the Linux System. [ ] b. Remain independent from the Open Invention Network.

Background:

Hi Bryce,

My name is Valer and I am writing to you on behalf of the Open Invention Network (OIN). Our mission is to support projects developing or using Linux-related and open source technology by deterring patent aggression.

We do this through a community that pledges not to assert patents against each other over the Linux System technology. This pledge covers over 2,100 Open Source packages. It is structured to reduce risk on core operating system and middleware technologies. Almost 750 projects and companies from all areas of technology creation, deployment and use have joined our community so far (see not very up to date list: http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/licensees.php)

We want to invite Inkscape to our community.

You may be interested in our community credentials and to get some more context about our work. Here is an endorsement from Eben Moglen, Chairman of the Software Freedom Law Center: http://emoglen.law.columbia.edu/now/organizations/OIN

Here is an endorsement from Jim Zemlin, Executive Director of the Linux Foundation: http://www.linux-foundation.org/weblogs/jzemlin/2009/09/09/protecting-linux-...

Our community is free to join. The only thing we want is a pledge that Inkscape would never use patents aggressively against the Linux System. Of course it never will, and that's a symbolic gesture, but it remains very important for our work. When we also bind big companies with this pledge we are sure they will not attack ç in this context for example. But their participation in OIN is also very important in various other aspects.

And these companies are numerous. For example Valve Software and Dropbox are on of the latest bigger companies joined in. UnitedStack from China joined just a weeks hours before. Pretty much everyone else is in there too, from Red Hat to GNOME, Fujitsu to CentOS, Google to KDE to OpenStack Foundation. This is the largest community to address software patent challenges in the world. The idea is: when everybody pledges freedom, there will be no wars.

We are passionate supporters of the Linux System and open innovation. I hope we can work together by welcoming Inkscape to our non-aggression community. Every single voice helps us face current market challenges while investing in a more collaborative future.

Attached is a very short overview of OIN + FAQs, but I am happy to answer any questions and to explain in more detail why the pledge of Linux System and open source patent non-aggression is so important for open innovation.

May you decide positively there is a possibility to sign online: http://licenses.openinventionnetwork.com

Please consult to Johan, Tavmjong, Ted and Josh and let me know what you guys think.

Regards, Valer Mischenko, Open Invention Network

www.openinventionnetwork.com