Blood On The Java Floor – Oracle Sues Google Over Java On Android

Aug 132010

In what might be very bad news for Java developers working on Android, Oracle has sued Google, alleging that it has infringed on intellectual property related to the Java software that Oracle acquired when it purchased Sun Microsystems. A Google vs Oracle battle is certain to lead to innocent Java blood being spilt.

The news seems to have drawn reactions ranging from upset to ‘very angry’ from members of the Java community, partly cause the Java community has had positive vibes for Google for a long time, while Oracle is still looked at with some suspicion.

“Google’s Android competes with Oracle’s Java as an operating system software platform for cellular telephones and other mobile devices,” Oracle said in its complaint.

“In developing Android, Google knowingly, directly and repeatedly infringed Oracle’s Java-related intellectual property,” Oracle spokesperson Karen Tillman said in a statement.
src: osnews

Claiming that Android competes with Java as “an operating system software platform for cellular telephones and other mobile devices” and that the Android stack employs Java apps running on a Java-based framework, Oracle says that Android and the Android SDK infringe on its patents, and it wants to see some cash for its unwitting involvement in the mobile OS’s success.

In addition to patent violations, Oracle is also claiming copyright infringement; Java’s code is copyrighted, and Oracle believes Google has used it without any kind of license.

src – mashable

Anyway, few people trusted the open source credentials of Java & Oracle and this will further harm the ‘open’ image of both. It could also lead to Google as well as others moving away from Java to more open & “unlikely to be sued” alternatives.

Also the lawsuits can only be bad news for the Java community & innovation in the space. I suppose this news will lead to a fresh surge of interest in free & open source and bolster the No Software Patents movement as people will again question the whole idea of software patents and the inordinate waste of time, money & effort in creating & servicing them.

Oracle, Google & IBM are the primary players in the Java space but unfortunately all three seem incapable of working together for the development of Java. The only thing that might work in favour of Java is that all three are deeply invested into the Java platform, so are unlikely to simply turn their back and look elsewhere.

The only positive I see is that this development could lead to continued action and innovation in the Mobile space and I suppose some engaging debates at the IndicThreads Mobile Software Development Conference. But then again this is also perhaps a cause for concern for our half a decade old IndicThreads Conference On Java.

http://www.harshadoak.com/ Harshad Oak

I wonder if Oracle under estimated the positive sentiment that Google enjoys in the developer community and over estimated its own position as regards developer connect
http://www.harshadoak.com/ Harshad Oak

Looks like this case will see Google take the high ground and say that it's acting in the true spirit of Open Source. Cant see how Oracle can get any positive returns from this case. Cause even if it wins the lawsuit and can get Google to pay, it has to win big enough for it to justify the millions it has already lost in this mega PR disaster for the company
http://www.harshadoak.com/ Harshad Oak

Hours after Oracle filed suit against Google for patent infringement, Google has made it very clear that it will stand its ground. “We are disappointed Oracle has chosen to attack both Google and the open-source Java community with this baseless lawsuit,” Google said in a statement to 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 platform.”
src- mashable.com
Guest

Go Microsoft
hun

Java will come to death if Oracle stop java in Android. Java is getting less popular in recent years. If Oracle work closely with Google in optimize java for Android, it may boost java up.
outraged

Wow, this is amazing!

If there is any life in the java community, the whole community should rise up in vocal opposition to oracle, blasting it with every occasion, with every speech, with every blog post. The java community should openly boycott oracle and all their products. The java community should ridicule and assault the oracle leaders and reps every single moment. Every java developer should post to blogs and vilify oracle with passion and rational arguments.

Oracle's blind greed should be put to public shame.

Communities should group to resit oracle. Oracle tools should be abandoned. People should encourage each other to use PostgreSql instead of oracle db, Maria DB instead of mysql.

But most of all, shame every rep, consultant or oracle salesperson. With this, oracle has shown their true color and become enemies of java and the java community.

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