Make The Commit – Community Best Practices for Patent Risk
E146 | Sat 15 Jul 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Presented by
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Keith Bergelt is the CEO of Open Invention Network (OIN), the largest patent non-aggression community in history, created to support freedom of action in Linux as a key element of open source software. Funded by Google, IBM, NEC, Philips, Sony, SUSE, and Toyota, OIN has nearly 4,000 community members. In his capacity as CEO, he is directly responsible for enabling, influencing, and defending the integrity of Linux and adjacent open source software as it relates to threats from patent aggressors.
Prior to joining OIN, Mr. Bergelt served as CEO of two Hedge Funds – Paradox Capital and IPI – formed to unlock the considerable asset value of intellectual property (IP) in middle- market companies. These were the first Funds to offer specialty lending products supported exclusively by IP.
Previously, he served as a senior advisor to TPG. He also headed business development, IP, and licensing for Cambridge Display Technology. Additionally, he served as GM of Strategic Intellectual Asset Management at Motorola and its director of Technology Strategy.
Abstract
All good Open Source developers and communities know that you have to address the issues. No one will show interest in contributing to an Open Source project if it doesn't address potential bugs, security issues, or feature additions to its repository. This is well understood by the Open Source community as part of the ethos which has driven the success of open as an innovation modality and spurred its growth into new technological areas such as AI/ML, Open Hardware, and others.
However, many of today’s most popular Open Source licenses do not adequately address patent risk for Open Source projects. As patent risk is a challenge that must be addressed, this presentation will discuss the key tenets around patent non-aggression in Open Source, key patent-related risks, and the best practices that Open Source projects should consider moving forward to “address the issue”.
Key Takeaways:
o Ways patent litigation risks are rising & ways to reduce these risks
o The relevance of patents and their future value in the “Open Work” economy
o Challenges for the Open Source community as it expands into new technologies and encounters new patent-related threats
o Best practice solutions to mitigate these challenges
All good Open Source developers and communities know that you have to address the issues. No one will show interest in contributing to an Open Source project if it doesn't address potential bugs, security issues, or feature additions to its repository. This is well understood by the Open Source community as part of the ethos which has driven the success of open as an innovation modality and spurred its growth into new technological areas such as AI/ML, Open Hardware, and others. However, many of today’s most popular Open Source licenses do not adequately address patent risk for Open Source projects. As patent risk is a challenge that must be addressed, this presentation will discuss the key tenets around patent non-aggression in Open Source, key patent-related risks, and the best practices that Open Source projects should consider moving forward to “address the issue”. Key Takeaways: o Ways patent litigation risks are rising & ways to reduce these risks o The relevance of patents and their future value in the “Open Work” economy o Challenges for the Open Source community as it expands into new technologies and encounters new patent-related threats o Best practice solutions to mitigate these challenges