Oracle sues Google over Android

[nyteshades]

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/08/12/oracle-files-suit-over-androids-use-of-java/?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin

In a press release posted after business today, Oracle (ORCL) charged that Google's (GOOG) Android OS infringes on Oracle patents and copyrights related to Java.

"In developing Android, Google knowingly, directly and repeatedly infringed Oracle's Java-related intellectual property. This lawsuit seeks appropriate remedies for their infringement," Oracle spokeswoman Karen Tillman said in a statement.

The complaint alleges that  "Android (including without limitation the Dalvik VM and the Android software development kit) and devices that operate Android infringe one or more claims of each of United States Patents Nos. 6,125,447; 6,192,476; 5,966,702; 7,426,720; RE38,104; 6,910,205; and 6,061,520."

It also asserts, "Google has been aware of Sun's patent portfolio, including the patents at issue, since the middle of this decade, when Google hired certain former Sun Java engineers."

Google CEO Eric Schmidt is intimately familiar with the Java programming language as he led its development while he was at Sun in the 1980s and 90s. Sun was acquired by Oracle on January 27, 2010 for US$7.4 billion based on an agreement signed on April 20, 2009.
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[riftware]

Yup - it is going to be an interesting ride.   Personally I don't think Android is going anywhere and based on the large architectural differences in the virtual machine I doubt the VM infringes.   Where I wonder if Google will prevail is in the fact that you use Java syntax to write an android program.   It is compiled to something other than Java bytecode but the language you develop in might violate some copyright issues. (Although in that case c# probably did too so maybe I'm wrong)

[nyteshades]

Knowing Ellison, this all about trying to intimidate Google. I can't see that happening...but he'll try.