Open Invention Network (OIN), the largest patent non-aggression community in history, announced on August 17 that ByteDance Ltd. has become a licensee and community member of OIN. As the maker of leading global short video, collaboration, and information platforms TikTok, Helo, and Resso, as well as platforms specific to the Chinese market, including Toutiao, Douyin, and Xigua, ByteDance is reinforcing its commitment to open source software (OSS) as an enabler of advanced infrastructure computing systems.

“Through our information platforms people can be more creative and enrich their lives through deeper communications with their friends and family. We view Linux and adjacent open source software as key elements for our business,” said Lynn Wu, Chief IP Counsel at ByteDance. “ByteDance’s participation in the OIN community shows our consistent commitment to shared innovation. We will continue to support it with patent non-aggression in core Linux and other important OSS technologies.”

“Internet platforms continue to transform the way people, teams and businesses communicate and collaborate. Linux and other open source platforms are the enabling technologies that internet platforms leverage to scale globally,” said Keith Bergelt, CEO of Open Invention Network. “We are glad that ByteDance is looking to do its part to mitigate global patent risk for OSS by joining OIN and demonstrating its commitment to collaborative innovation and patent non-aggression in open source.”

Public information shows that OIN was established in 2005 and is positioned as a "patent non-infringement community". It is invested by companies such as Google, IBM, NEC, Philips, and Sony, and currently has more than 3,500 community members. Within this community, members can cross-license patents with each other, provided that they agree not to mention patent litigation involving Linux projects. It is understood that OIN has recently expanded its scope and has expanded from core Linux programs and adjacent open source codes to other patents, such as the Android open source project and the extended file allocation table exFAT file system. And since last year, Huawei, Baidu, Kuaishou and other companies have successively announced their participation in this community.