Google wins copyright battle over its use of Java software code in Android
A federal jury in San Francisco ruled for Google on Thursday in a suit alleging the company violated Oracle’s copyright by using Java software code to allow software developers to create Android apps.
Oracle, which had sought as much as $9 billion in damages, plans an appeal, report the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.), Ars Technica and the Recorder (sub. req.). Jurors had deliberated for three days.
The dispute centered on Java code for application programming interfaces, known as APIs, that allow software programs, apps and websites to communicate with each other, the Wall Street Journal explains. Google had argued its use of the Java code was protected by fair use rules and the company didn’t need to purchase a license for Java’s open source software. Oracle had acquired Java when it purchased Sun Micrososytems in 2010.
Jurors gave Google a win by indicating on a special verdict form that the company’s use of the APIs was fair use. The fair use argument was Google’s only option after a 2014 federal appeals court ruling in the case that found parts of Java are protected by copyright, Ars Technica explains.
Mitch Stoltz, a senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, wrote in an article for Law.com that software developers “breathed a sigh of relief” as a result of the jury decision on Thursday. ‘The jury’s finding that Google’s use of elements of the Java programming language was a fair use under copyright law validates a common practice in the software industry, one that has led to a great deal of innovation,” he wrote.
Stoltz added that he was still troubled by the appellate ruling in the case that left Google with only a fair use defense. “Fair use cases can be unpredictable,” he said. especially where complex new technology is involved.”
