Oracle Seeks $9.3 Billion For Google's Use Of Java In Android (computerworld.com)

angry tapir quotes a report from Computerworld: Oracle is seeking as much as $9.3 billion in damages in a long-running copyright lawsuit against Google over its use of Java in Android, court filings show. Oracle sued Google six years ago, claiming the search giant needs a license to use parts of the Java platform in Google's market-leading mobile OS. The two companies first went to trial in 2012, but the jury was split on whether or not Google's use of Java was protected by "fair use." Now they're headed back to the courtroom for a new trial scheduled to begin May 9, where Oracle's Larry Ellison and Google's Eric Schmidt will be present. Currently, the sum Oracle is asking for is about 10 times as much as when the two companies went to trial in 2012.

Comments

Re:pure profit

[tnk1]

That's why Sun was actually an investment worth making. They hope to make more off of lawsuits with Sun's IP than they paid for Sun.

Oracle's business model at this point is based off of extracting as much money out of existing customers and through lawsuits as possible. They reached the saturation point in the database market long ago.

Strange signal

[lars_boegild_thomsen]

I am fully aware that the law suit is a bit more complex than simply using Java in a product, but I still think that Oracle is sending a weird signals to their existing and potential customers:

"Feel free to use our products for free but if you get successful we will sue you to get a piece of the cake."

I miss Sun!

Re:What about IBM . . . ?

[shutdown -p now]

For this to be true, APIs must be copyrightable. Which is obvious bullshit, regardless of what the courts may say on the matter.