Kuaishou Group (Kuaishou) has become a licensee and community member of Open Invention Network, the largest patent non-aggression community in history. As a leading content community and social media platform, Kuaishou is reinforcing its commitment to open source software (OSS) as an enabler of advanced infrastructure computing systems.
Kuaishou, also known as Kwai in many countries outside China, is one of the most popular short video sharing apps. Kuaishou Group became a public company in early-2021, raising more than $5 Billion USD, with a market capitalization of more than $100 Billion USD.
“Social media has transformed the way people communicate and do business. Linux and open source technology underpin the leading social media platforms. Kuaishou, like many Chinese companies, has grown increasingly sophisticated with regard to intellectual property, and is looking to do its part to mitigate global patent risk for OSS,” said Keith Bergelt, CEO of Open Invention Network. “We appreciate Kuaishou joining OIN and demonstrating its commitment to collaborative innovation and patent non-aggression in open source.”
Open Invention Network (OIN) is the largest patent non-aggression community in history and supports freedom of action in Linux as a key element of open source software (OSS). Patent non-aggression in core technologies is a cultural norm within OSS, so that the litmus test for authentic behavior in the OSS community includes OIN membership. Funded by Google, IBM, NEC, Philips, Sony, SUSE, and Toyota, OIN has more than 3,400 community members. The OIN patent license and member cross-licenses are available royalty-free to any party that joins the OIN community.
“We strive to be the top short video social platform and community for all users to record and share their lives. Linux and open source are critical elements in technologies we develop and integrate into our platform,” said Hongyi Jia,General Counsel at Kuaishou Group. “By joining the Open Invention Network, we are demonstrating our continued commitment to innovation, and supporting it with patent non-aggression in core Linux and adjacent open source software.”
