Hyundai Motor and Kia have become the first major Korean companies to join Open Invention Network (OIN) 2.0, a patent non-aggression programme protecting open source software across automotive and technology sectors. The two automakers cite the growing role of Linux and open source technologies in software-defined vehicles, connected car platforms and cloud services as their rationale. OIN’s membership now exceeds 4,100 organisations, which collectively account for more than US$10tr in annual revenues and own more than three million patents and applications. The programme provides continuously refreshed patent protection covering a broadening range of technologies. Through OIN 2.0 membership, Hyundai Motor and Kia aim to support collaborative innovation while reducing patent risk in their open source supply chains. The pair join fellow automotive manufacturers Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota in recognising open source software as foundational to vehicle development. In a statement, Keith Bergelt, Chief Executive of Open Invention Network, said: “The pace of open source technology innovation continues to power the global economy. It has spawned new industries and technologies that run the gamut from AI and smartphones to search engines and mobile devices, and everything in between. We greatly appreciate automotive industry leaders Hyundai Motor and Kia in joining OIN 2.0 and supporting patent non-aggression. Their participation signals the strategic value of Open Source.” Why this matters: • OIN membership is infrastructure-layer housekeeping, but the SDV context makes it meaningful. Patent non-aggression agreements around Linux and open source have been standard practice in consumer electronics and cloud computing for years. Their extension into automotive reflects how much of the software-defined vehicle stack now runs on open source foundations—Linux-based operating systems, open networking protocols, cloud service layers—and how much legal exposure automakers face if that foundation is contested. Hyundai Motor and Kia joining as the first major Korean OEMs signals