Oracle Sues Google Over Android

[Tom Metro]

The next SCO?
 -Tom

http://mashable.com/2010/08/12/oracle-google-android-lawsuit/

  Claiming egregious IP infringement, Oracle has filed suit against
  Google over its ever-more-popular mobile operating system, Android.

  In a statement released today, an Oracle rep stated, "In developing
  Android, Google knowingly, directly and repeatedly infringed Oracle's
  Java-related intellectual property. This lawsuit seeks appropriate
  remedies for their infringement."
[...]
  And remember that Android is open-source software and that a lot of
  manufacturers and developers are involved in making the Android
  platform what it is. The kicker in this lawsuit is Oracle's assertion
  that Google has "induced, caused and materially contributed to the
  infringing acts of others by encouraging... others to use, copy and
  distribute" what could be called derivative works.

http://mashable.com/2010/08/14/google-rebuts-oracle-lawsuit-invokes-open-source-defense/

  "We are disappointed Oracle has chosen to attack both Google (Google)
  and the open-source Java community with this baseless lawsuit," Google
  said in a statement to Mashable (Mashable)  earlier today.  "The
  open-source Java community goes beyond any one corporation and works
  every day to make the web a better place. We will strongly defend
  open-source standards and will continue to work with the industry to
  develop the Android (Android) platform."
[...]
  It's likely Google will argue that it's not committing patent
  infringement because Java is an open-source software; Google mentioned
  open-source standards not once, but three times in its statement.  Sun
  released most of Java's code as open-source software in 2006.
[...]
  As CNet points out, Sun Microsystems didn't have the financial
  capability to wage war against Google.  Oracle, with its greater
  financial strength and experience in patent lawsuits, can.  And while
  the suit could cost Oracle millions, the payout would be even greater
  if it can show that Google willfully infringed on Oracle's
  Java-related patents.


-- 
Tom Metro
Venture Logic, Newton, MA, USA
"Enterprise solutions through open source."
Professional Profile: http://tmetro.venturelogic.com/