After a controversial trial, a jury this week ruled that Google’s implementation of dozens of Java APIs used by Android represents fair use, in light of complaints by Java’s nominal owner, Oracle.
Google said the ruling was a win for the Android ecosystem, for the Java programming community and for software developers who need to use open and free programming languages to build innovative consumer products, according to TechCrunch.
Oracle sometimes licenses Java for commercial products, but Google argued it was exempt due to fair use terms, as it transformed the code into a new product, namely Android.
Oracle already said it will file an appeal in the case, which stems back to 2010. “We strongly believe that Google developed Android by illegally copying core Java technology to rush into the mobile device market”, said Oracle general counsel Dorian Daley.
A vote in Oracle’s favour could have put developers off from using third-party languages, something that is common today.
SOURCE: TechCrunch.
Larry Banks is a keen follower of technology and finance. He has worked for a variety of online publications, writing about a diverse range of topics including mobile networks, patents, and Internet video delivery technologies.