Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Join Global Patent Network OIN 2.0 to Prepare for Patent Disputes

Major Companies Including Amazon, Google, and Toyota Participate
Mutual Patent Use Among Members Prevents Disputes

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia are taking preemptive measures to address potential patent disputes related to open source software (OSS).

On May 13, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia announced that they have joined the global patent network "OIN (Open Invention Network) 2.0," further strengthening the stability of their services that utilize open source software.

OIN is a global network established to prevent patent disputes within the Linux-related open source ecosystem. In January of this year, it introduced the OIN 2.0 framework, which significantly expands the scope of patent protection compared to previous versions. The network operates under a mutual licensing system that allows member companies to use each other's patents, preventing conflicts from escalating into disputes. Major global IT and automotive companies, including Amazon, Google, Toyota, and Nissan, are participating in the network.

Although open source software is made public and available for anyone to use, which accelerates software development, there remains the risk of service restrictions due to issues such as patent disputes.

To address this, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia, which joined OIN 1.0 in 2015, have now decided to participate in OIN 2.0 as well. This move provides a stable foundation for ongoing technology development and service operations in key areas of future mobility—including Software Defined Vehicles (SDV), cloud, and connected services.

In addition, to prepare for rapid changes in the technology market, the companies plan to play a responsible role as members of the global open source ecosystem, actively participating in efforts to redefine the scope of patent protection within OIN.

A Hyundai Motor Company and Kia representative stated, "In order to respond to the SDV era, we are managing not only technological development but also legal aspects to ensure a stable foundation for service operations. Through our participation in OIN 2.0, we plan to strengthen cooperation within the global network and enhance our competitiveness in software-driven future mobility."

Since joining OIN in 2015, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia have been sharing open source software patents with more than 4,000 global member companies, thereby enhancing their technological capabilities.