Oracle is suing Google for copyright and patent infringement over its use of the Java platform within the Android operating system.
In court documents filed in a California court, Oracle alleges Google was aware of its patent infringements since around “the middle of this decade” when it hired Sun Java engineers to work on Android.
Google “knowingly, directly and repeatedly” infringed Oracle’s Java patents, Oracle spokesperson Karen Tillman said in a brief statement Thursday.
Google has since pledged to defend itself against what spokesperson Aaron Zamost called “baseless” accusations that amounted to an attack on open source.
The impending litigation has raised questions about the different approach Oracle will take towards protecting widely used Java software compared to its former owner, Sun Microsystems.
Oracle acquired the highly-prized Java software platform when it bought Sun Microsystems for $7.4 billion in 2009. At the time, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison declared it “the single most important software asset we have ever acquired.”
Altimeter Group analyst Ray Wang said Oracle takes “a lot more care in terms of protecting its IP” than Sun did, the Wall Street Journalreported.
IDC analyst Will Stofega said Oracle and Google will probably settle the case by agreeing to license each others’ patentsBloomberg reported.
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