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Ricoh Joins the Linux Foundation Stepping up the development of Linux-compatible products

Monday 12. April 2010 - Ricoh Company, Ltd. President and CEO: Shiro Kondo has joined as a corporate Silver member the Linux Foundation; a nonprofit consortium dedicated to promoting, protecting and standardizing Linux. This membership will help Ricoh step up its development of Linux-compatible multifunction products and printers.

Linux and the Linux Foundation

Linux is a Unix-like operating system, which source code can be used, modified and redistributed by numerous developers. Since being developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991, it has been installed on a wide variety of computer hardware, ranging from corporate internet servers and mission-critical systems to desktop computers and netbooks, and is even used within academic organizations. It is expected to continue developing along with other operating systems such as Windows and Mac OS.

The Linux Foundation was established in 2007 to promote, protect and standardize Linux. It supports collaboration between Linux developers around the world, sponsored by companies that utilize Linux and open source software. The Linux Foundation also manages the Linux trademark, offers support for legal intellectual property protection to developers, and coordinates legal collaboration and education for companies and development community.