Oracle initiated the legal proceedings back in 2010 claiming that Google had developed Android by illegally using Java APIs. “Only when Oracle concluded it lacked the engineering skill to build its own “Java phone” did it choose Plan B – this lawsuit”, Google’s trial brief states. Oracle says Google has earned $21 billion in profit from Android-based smartphones.
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In response, Google argued its implementation of Java APIs fall under USA copyright laws for fair use, which permits limited use of copyrighted material without licensing for creative, educational, and other purposes.
Back in 2012, the companies took the issue to court but the jury was unable to determine whether Google used Java APIs fairly. Google said it made fair use of that code and owed nothing. The company obtained Java from Sun Microsystems that it had acquired in 2010. An appeals court overturned the judge’s ruling in 2014.
A unanimous jury verdict in a San Francisco courtroom today found that Google did not need a license to use Java programming language in its Android operating system.
Google said it used an insignificant amount of Java code while developing Android, making it fair use.
Google argued that it transformed Java into something completely new and useful for its customers, so its actions should be protected under the fair use principle.
“We’re in a situation where Oracle, which had no investment in Android, took none of the risk”, attorney Robert Van Nest argued in Google’s closing, “they want all the credit and a lot of the money, and that’s not fair”.
While today’s verdict is undoubtedly a big win for Google, you can be sure that this isn’t the last that you’ll hear about this case.
The BBC has more detail, noting that Android powers around 80% of smartphone devices around the world.
The result robs Oracle of $9.3 billion in damages that the software company estimated it was owed from Google’s infringement.
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No doubt this appeal will continue the fight between Oracle and Google for more several more years, although Google should be very happy with this initial result.
