According to reports just coming out, the jury in the Oracle-Google trial has found that Google did not infringe any of Oracle’s patents with Android. Thus there are no damages that Google must pay to Oracle. This is near total victory for Google.
In an earlier phase of the trial Google was found by the jury to have violated Oracle’s copyright in using some Java code in Android APIs. However, the jury deadlocked on the question of Google’s defense of “fair use.” The status of that portion of the trial is still unresolved.
Final determinations about the copyright issues will be made by the court/judge. The jury has now been dismissed.
Oracle sued Google in 2010 for copyright and patent infringement over the unlicensed use of Java in Android APIs. The parties had settlement discussions at several points but were too far apart and trial ensued.
Google’s exposure, it’s safe to say, is now relatively small (or non-existant) in the case. The company has scored a big win.
More detail and coverage are available at Techmeme.
Comments