As OIN 2.0 changes its funding and governance model, Shane Coughlan steps in as global ambassador to sell the shift to enterprises without alienating free software critics.
Open Invention Network, the organization that seeks to protect Linux and related software from patent aggressors, announced on Tuesday that it’s created a new position that’s being filled by Shane Coughlan.
The new position is “global ambassador,” which the announcement defines as “a pivotal role in accelerating awareness, adoption, and community engagement around the organization’s next-generation open source patent protection framework.” In everyday language, that means that Coughlan is now the patent protection version of an open source enthusiast.
In other words, his basic role will be as a high‑profile advocate tasked with selling the virtues of OIN’s patent non‑aggression model in order to get more stakeholders aligned with it. From looking at his resume, that should be pretty easy as long as he focuses on enterprise level management, which is the area that has the most to lose (and to gain) when it comes to patents.
“Shane’s unparalleled experience at the intersection of open source governance, intellectual property strategy, and community advocacy makes him the ideal ambassador for this transformational phase of OIN,” the organization’s CEO, Keith Bergelt, said in a statement. “As open source technologies continue to evolve and expand into new domains — cloud, networking, AI, and beyond — Shane will help amplify OIN 2.0’s mission and foster global participation to sustain and protect open source.”
Non-Aggression Protection Isn’t for Everybody
The good news for Coughlan is that selling OIN’s brand of patent non-aggression to enterprises should be pretty easy. That said, there are some — mainly those who don’t have skin in the game — who generally see OIN as a pragmatic “truce” around patents, but not a long‑term fix for the patent issue. This concern has been voiced over the years by groups such as the Free Software Foundation and Software Freedom Conservancy, who have warned that OIN’s Linux System‑based non‑aggression pact leaves most software patents – and the risk they pose – intact.
One key argument centers around OIN’s focus on Linux. It’s amassed a large portfolio of patents that its members can leverage against patent aggressors, but the portfolio is aimed at protecting “the Linux system,” which is Linux and key components to Linux-based infrastructures, such as cloud-native technologies and microservices. Detractors say this does little to protect consumer-focused software designed for what Gary Newell used to call the “everyday Linux user.”
The fact that Coughlan will have to deal with that dichotomy might be why they’re calling the new position an ambassadorship instead of using the term “enthusiast.” It also helps that his LinkedIn resume has the word “ambassador” metaphorically written all over it.
What Coughlan Brings to the Table
For the last 16 years Coughlan has been highly placed in OpenForum Europe, a Brussels‑based not‑for‑profit and independent think tank that focuses on digital policy and promotes “openness” in technologies. Most pertinent to his new job, for the last eight of those years he’s been working with the enterprise-focused Linux Foundation’s OpenChain Project, an initiative that defines and maintains standards for open‑source license compliance programs, which is published as the OpenChain Specification.
On the other side of the fence — that being the side that generally finds fault with OIN’s approach — he’s been deeply involved with the Free Software movement. He spent 13 years holding various positions at Free Software Foundation Europe, leaving in late 2019 as an FSFE General Assembly Member.
This should put Coughlan in the unique position of being able to not only address the hopes and concerns from both sides of the open source/free software aisle, but to network across the spectrum as well.
“In a world where open source innovation powers digital transformation across every industry, protecting that ecosystem from patent risk is fundamental,” Coughlan said. “I am honored to join OIN at this defining moment.”
OIN at a Glance
The defining moment he mentions is a fundamental change at the organization called OIN 2.0 that was announced in January. The change revolves around how the organization will be structured and funded. Going forward, OIN will still focus on its patent cross license portfolio, which the organization claims is the largest such portfolio in history. In all, 4,000 members collectively hold more than three million patents, with some being owned by OIN outright, and with others owned by member organizations.
Until last month, the organization was largely paying its bill by using what remained of a $160 million pool established by its original backers in 2005. About a month ago, that changed with the announcement of OIN 2.0, which put more onus on member companies to carry additional financial weight. Under the new scheme, small businesses and individuals can still participate for free, but larger enterprises will pay according to a tiered annual participation fee which is based on revenue.
That’s part of what brings Coughlan on board, according to OIN.
“His primary focus will be to broaden the collective understanding of the OIN 2.0 model,” the organization said in a statement. “To achieve this, he will engage a diverse range of stakeholders, spanning from emerging startups to large global enterprises. Additionally, Mr. Coughlan will support various events, strategic initiatives, and community-centric programs designed to reinforce patent peace within the open source ecosystem.”
Christine Hall has been a journalist since 1971. In 2001, she began writing a weekly consumer computer column and started covering Linux and FOSS in 2002 after making the switch to GNU/Linux. Follow her on Twitter: @BrideOfLinux
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