Google: Oracle lawsuit an "attack" on open-source software
Google has called the patent and copyright infringement complaint filed by Oracle America an “attack” on open-source software.
Oracle’s August 13 lawsuit alleges that Google’s Android, used in mobile phones, infringes patents relating to the Java platform, a technology that allows applications written in the Java programming language to be deployed on servers, desktop computers and mobile devices.
Oracle also believes that Android infringes the copyrighted subject matter of its Java platform, including code, specifications and documentation.
A Google spokesperson described the lawsuit, filed in the US District Court of the Northern District of California, as “baseless”. Open-source software is more important than any single corporation, he said.“We will strongly defend open-source standards and will continue to work with the industry to develop the Android platform.”
The patents were originally owned by Sun Microsystems, but Oracle Corporation purchased the company in January, renaming it Oracle America. It hopes to be awarded damages and expects injunctive relief to end the continued acts of infringement it believes Google and others are committing.
The complaint states: “[Oracle requires] an order permanently enjoining Google, its officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys and affiliated companies, its assigns and successors in interest, and those persons in active concert or participation with it, from continued acts of infringement of the patents and copyrights at issue in this litigation.”
The source code of the Android platform is freely available to software developers. Google manages contributors and builders of compatible devices during each update of the Android platform.
