Protecting Open Source through patent pooling and defensive publications 
by Mirko Boehm (Endocode AG)
Samstag, 10.05.2014, Stage C, 16:45-17:30 Uhr
Track: Trends und Ideen
Patent trolls and significant patent thickets especially related to mobile communication, networking and multimedia formats are a threat to the innovative pace of the development of free software. The Open Invention Network protects the open source ecosystem by acquiring patents and licensing them royalty free to entities, by inviting organisations to join a non-aggression community and by encouraging defensive publications. The presentation will explain the genesis of Open Invention Network, the Linux System Definition that defines what technologies are protected by the non-aggression pledge, and how patent pooling and defensive publications work to make free software platforms possible despite patent threats. The presenter is responsible for Open Invention Network's Linux System Definition.
About the author Mirko Boehm:
Mirko Boehm is the CEO of Endocode, where he specializes in consulting to and mentoring small to large businesses on complex software development endeavors, the use of open source products and methods in organizations, and software-related issues of business strategy and intellectual property.
The Open Invention Network protects the open source ecosystem by acquiring patents and licensing them royalty free to entities. Mirko Boehm is responsible for the Linux System Definition, which defines technical scope of the patent non-aggression agreements.
Mirko Boehm has been a KDE contributor since 1997, including several years on the KDE e.V. Board. Currently, he is doing research on Open Source at the Technical University of Berlin. He is a member of the FSFE Germany team, and a Qt-certified specialist and trainer. He lives with his wife and two kids in Berlin.