In 2010, Oracle had sued Google over their use of Java as a basis for android. The case keeps doping up within the news from time to time as and once there’s a new development, and currently there’s one. Oracle, the current owners of Java, area unit seeking $9.3 billion in damages from Google. As PCWorld reports, that figure amounts to concerning double of Google (or rather, Alphabet’s) operating profit in 2015.
To quickly summarise the case, Google developed an environment for android known as Dalvik. currently Dalvik itself is compatible with Java, however it had been developed severally by Google, while not the utilization of any actual code from Oracle, then Sun Microsystems.
Google was engaged in negotiations with Sun Microsystems and later, with Oracle, concerning licensing for android. However, no agreement was reached by 2010 and Oracle determined to sue Google.
Oracle claims that Google infringed on many of Oracle’s patents and copyright associated with Java. Google insists that even though it did infringe on Oracle’s copyright, it had been lined below ‘fair use’, that doesn’t need permission from the first copyright holder which the Apis (Application Program Interface) concerned in developing android aren’t lined by copyright law anyway. The latter is true, as way as copyright law is bothered, however Oracle insisted that the “structure, sequence and organisation” of the Java API was distinctive and copyrightable.
In 2012, a jury dominated that Google had infact desecrated Oracle’s copyright with relevance the Apis, however couldn’t decide if that violation was lined by fair use. Google protested the ruling and pushed for a trial within the copyright hearing. A separate trial was conducted for the allegations of violation.
The trial for the copyright ruling resulted during a ruling in favour of Google, however an extra trial once more dominated in favour of Oracle. As things stand, the choice on whether or not Google’s infringement of Oracle’s copyright is roofed below enjoyment or not is unfinished. This trial is ready for 9 may.
The initial filings in preparation for that case indicate that Oracle is seeking $9.3 billion in damages. Google’s counter-filing isn’t on the market for poring over nevertheless, however reportedly indicates that they claim they’re solely to blame for around $100 million in damages.
The case can have major ramifications for code patents and licensing the world over, and is one that must be watched terribly closely.
