GitHub has joined the LOT Network, an organization aimed at reducing patent litigation by protecting members from patent trolls, who exploit patents to force settlements or shutdowns of projects. Patent trolling, which targets successful and innovative projects including open-source software like Linux and Git, poses a significant threat to innovation. The LOT Network counteracts this by granting all members a license to any patent sold to a troll, thereby diminishing the trolls' capacity to leverage patents for litigation. As the network expands, the number of patents available to trolls decreases, undermining their business model. GitHub is also hosting the LOT agreement as an open-source project, encouraging community contributions to enhance its effectiveness. By inviting more companies to join the LOT Network, GitHub aims to create a robust defense against patent trolls and foster a safer environment for innovation.