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Did Google Knowingly Violate Java Patents?

Posted by Soulskill on from the pay-no-attention-to-the-man-behind-the-curtain dept.

jfruhlinger writes "Opponents of software patenting have been rather heartened by recent developments in the Oracle-Google lawsuit, which have seemed to indicate that Oracle's patent case is weakening. But now the judge in the case has some sharp questions for Google, given that Google tried to negotiate with Sun over the patents in question before going on to develop Android without them."

2 of 148 comments (clear)

  1. A better question by c0lo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Call me a dreamer, but instead of Did Google Knowingly Violate Java Patents? question, wouldn't it sound better better the Did Google know that SUN's patents were invalid and thus there was nothing to violate or pay for? or even Did Google know software patents are invalid?

    --
    Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
  2. All Smart Phones Infiringe by paulsnx2 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Nobody sells a high tech product without knowing that it infringes on some patent you don't own or have license to!!!

    EVERY SINGLE COMPANY that ships a smart phone today, KNOWS that they are infringing on a patent held by someone else!

    There are over 50 companies that hold at least 300 patents each covering smart phone technology. Who knows how many companies hold patents over various manufacturing technologies used. There are thousands of patents out there on many very basic software techniques. IBM, Motorola, HP, Intel, Apple, HTC, Samsung, Google, Microsoft, all hold thousands of patents that more or less apply to Smart phones and computers. And there are tons more. These are the guys that produce products. Many, many patents are held by trolls that produce nothing but lawsuits.

    How then can any company hope to build a product that is free and clear of patents?

    If knowing you might have patent issues means something significant, then ban all high tech products! Including frankly most medicines. Including every modern car. Including every T.V. Including ever significant piece of software!

    In light of this rather obvious fact, what is the point this Judge is trying to make? How is any product any different?