
Microsoft has <A HREF="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2151687,00.asp?kc=EWKNLEDP062807B">no current plans to join the Open Innovation Network,</A> a move that some in the free and open-source community have suggested would benefit them both.
OIN is an intellectual property company that was formed to acquire Linux-related patents and share them, royalty-free, to any organization that agrees not to assert its patents against Linux or its applications.
With member companies including IBM, NEC, Novell, Philips, Red Hat, Sony and Oracle, OIN represents a considerable patent litigation threat to any company that might try to take Linux to court.