DURHAM, NC and CUPERTINO, CA — SugarCRM and Open Invention Network (OIN) today announced the signing of SugarCRM as an OIN licensee. OIN’s mission is to enable and protect Linux. By becoming a licensee, SugarCRM, a leading provider of open source CRM software, has joined the expanding list of companies that recognize the importance of participating in a substantial community of Linux supporters and leveraging the Open Invention Network to further spur open source innovation.

"In the third quarter 2010, SugarCRM increased revenue by 60 percent. The continued growth we are seeing demonstrates the fact that businesses of all types are demanding more flexible, intuitive and open solutions," said Larry Augustin, chief executive officer of SugarCRM. "We believe that by becoming an Open Invention Network licensee, we encourage ongoing development of open solutions and promote further innovation, which benefits everyone."

"SugarCRM is a leading provider of open source CRM software. Given that the company’s solutions are based on the open source development model, we are pleased to have SugarCRM join OIN as a licensee," said Keith Bergelt, CEO of Open Invention Network. "By signing our license, SugarCRM affirms that it values the continued openness of Linux and demonstrates its willingness to stand together with others in the open source community. We applaud the company’s foresight in taking this step."

Patents owned by Open Invention Network are available royalty-free to any company, institution or individual that agrees not to assert its patents against the Linux System. This fosters additional investment in, and adoption of, Linux, which in turn helps to fuel economic growth. By developing a web of Linux developers, distributors, sellers, resellers and end-users that license its patent portfolio, Open Invention Network is creating a supportive and open ecosystem for Linux.

OIN has amassed a broad portfolio of patents, including patents held by nominees on its behalf. These patents are available to all licensees as part of the patent portfolio that OIN is creating around and in support of Linux. Its license agreement can be found at www.openinventionnetwork.com/pat_license_agreement.php.

About SugarCRM

SugarCRM makes CRM Simple. As the world’s leading provider of open source customer relationship management (CRM) software, SugarCRM applications have been downloaded more than seven million times and currently serve over 600,000 end users in 80 languages. Over 6,000 customers have chosen SugarCRM’s On-Site and Cloud Computing services over proprietary alternatives. SugarCRM has been recognized for its customer success and product innovation by Forrester Research, CRM Magazine, InfoWorld, Customer Interaction Solutions and Intelligent Enterprise.

For more information, call (408) 454-6900 or 1 87 SUGARCRM toll-free in the US, email contact@sugarcrm.com, or visit http://www.sugarcrm.com.

About Open Invention Network

Open Invention Network is a collaborative enterprise that enables innovation in open source and an increasingly vibrant ecosystem around Linux. It does this by acquiring and licensing patents, influencing behaviors and policy and protecting the integrity of the ecosystem through strategic programs such as Linux Defenders. OIN enables the growth and continuation of open source software by fostering a healthy Linux ecosystem of investors, vendors, developers and users.

Open Invention Network has considerable industry backing. It was launched in 2005 by IBM, NEC, Novell, Philips, Red Hat and Sony. OIN has received supplemental financial support from Canonical. For more information, visit www.openinventionnetwork.com.

Open Invention Network, the Open Invention Network logo, Linux Defenders, Linux Defenders 911 and the Linux Defenders 911 logo are registered trademarks or the property of Open Invention Network, LLC. All other names and brand marks are the property of their respective holders.