A new role in Open Invention Network (Google Open Source Blog)
On its open source blog, Google has announced that it has become a full member of the Open Invention Network (OIN). Google joins IBM, NEC, Novell (SUSE), Philips, Red Hat, and Sony as a full member of the organization.
"OIN protects the open-source community through a patent cross-license for Linux and related open-source technologies. The license is free and available to companies, organizations, and individual developers if they agree not to assert their own patents against Linux. OIN also defends against anti-open-source patent aggression through education, reform efforts, and its own defensive patent portfolio.

Over nearly three decades, what is now known as open-source software has benefited consumers all over the world by delivering innovative products and services. We’re committed to helping protect that innovation and are happy to expand our role in OIN." OIN also has a press release announcing Google as a new member.