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==Patent pools==
Corporations with a vested interest in free and [[open source software|open source]] software developed a means to protect [[FOSS]] projects from the threats of patent suits by [[patent pool|pooling patent]]s into the [[Open Invention Network]] (OIN). The OIN is a company that acquires patents and offers them royalty free "to any company, institution or individual that agrees not to assert its patents against the [[Linux operating system]] or certain Linux-related applications".<ref>{{cite web | year = [[November 10]], [[2005]] | url=http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/press_release11_05.php | title=Open Invention Network formed to promote Linux and spur innovation globally through access to key patents |publisher = [[Open Invention Network]] | accessmonthday = April 17 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref>
The OIN has the [[Commerce One]] patents that cover web services, which potentially threaten anyone who uses web services. The OIN's founders intend for these patents to encourage others to join, and to discourage legal threats against Linux and Linux-related applications. Along with several other projects, Mono is listed as a covered project.
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