Mixed Decision In Oracle Vs. Google Copyright Case
The jury deliberating over Oracle Corp.’s claims that Google Inc. infringed copyrights protecting Oracle’s Java technology reached a mixed decision Monday, which could leave Google on the hook for only a relatively minimal amount of damages. The jury decided that when Google was developing its Android mobile phone software it did make use of Oracle’s Java interfaces, or essential building blocks. But it was unable to reach a decision on whether that was protected under the so-called fair-use doctrine.
The jury did find separately that Google infringed a minimal amount of Java code as it developed Android. But the judge overseeing the case indicated Oracle would only be entitled to statutory damages as a result, and not a portion of Google’s profits.
The size of potential statutory damages in the case wasn’t immediately clear, though they are generally expected to be less than $100,000—or a fraction of the roughly $1 billion Oracle has said it is entitled to for the total amount of copyright and patent infringement alleged in the case.
In addition, Google’s attorney said Monday he is moving for a mistrial based on the jury’s inability to reach a verdict on whether Google’s use of Java interfaces was protected by fair use.
http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/05/07/mixed-decision-in-oracle-vs-google-copyright-case/
The jury did find separately that Google infringed a minimal amount of Java code as it developed Android. But the judge overseeing the case indicated Oracle would only be entitled to statutory damages as a result, and not a portion of Google’s profits.
The size of potential statutory damages in the case wasn’t immediately clear, though they are generally expected to be less than $100,000—or a fraction of the roughly $1 billion Oracle has said it is entitled to for the total amount of copyright and patent infringement alleged in the case.
In addition, Google’s attorney said Monday he is moving for a mistrial based on the jury’s inability to reach a verdict on whether Google’s use of Java interfaces was protected by fair use.
http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/05/07/mixed-decision-in-oracle-vs-google-copyright-case/
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