Jury renders partial verdict copyright infringement in Oracle v Google case
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The key here is that while the jury found that Google copied the names and structure of the Java API (technically question 1-A), they deadlocked over the issue of whether that copying constitutes fair use (question 1-B). Without a ruling on fair use Oracle really cannot collect damages for it. At the request of Google’s lawyers, Judge Alsup has just ordered both sides to prepare briefs to comment on whether or not a mistrial will have to be declared on question one due to the split decision.
Even if the Judge allows the ruling to stand, the actual question of whether or not an API can be copyrighted is something he will be ruling on next week – the jury had been instructed to assume that APIs can be copyright for the purpose of rendering a verdict, to help prevent the need for a retrial. Ironically, a retrial may end up being unavoidable now.
In short, while many sites will be saying that the finding favors Oracle, it’s not clear what, if anything, Oracle has won here. Google conceded that the API names are the same, the issue is whether APIs can be copyrighted at all (which has yet to be decided) and if so whether this particular use of 37 APIs amongst several million lines of code constitutes fair use. Since the jury could not decide that, Oracle has really not won anything. In one way the ruling works against Oracle – with the ruling that Google did copy the API’s the judge must now rule on whether copyright protects the sequence and structure of API names.
No rest for the wicked though - the second phase of the trial, dealing with the remaining two patents that Oracle is asserting against Google, is scheduled to begin immediately.
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18 Comments
1. remixfa posted on 07 May 2012, 13:48 5 2
interesting jury findings. Kinda weird that they would go both ways in the verdict, but I guess they had their reasons. Is there any word on a time table for when they will decide on a mistrial or not?
2. Scott_H posted on 07 May 2012, 13:56 5 2
The mistrial briefs are due tomorrow, so Alsup could rule as soon as late tomorrow. My understanding is that the mistrial would only apply to the first question (that there was infringement but no decision on fair use), although if Alsup intends to rule that APIs cannot be copyrighted (which I find likely) he may disregard it, since another trial would then only be necessary if he was over-ruled by a higher court.
9. Scott_H posted on 07 May 2012, 16:52 0 1
I spoke too soon - hearings on the mistrial issue will occur tomorrow AND Thursday, so presumably we won't know about this until the end of the week now.
4. Pdubb posted on 07 May 2012, 14:31 1 0
Insightful decision. I would love to hear the jury's reasoning for why one(used the names) and not the other(fair use).
5. tedkord posted on 07 May 2012, 15:42 1 2
The headline in iBGR is, "Jury says Google infringed on Oracle’s copyrights"
8. Scott_H posted on 07 May 2012, 16:50 2 1
Yeah, there's a lot of funny stuff getting reported, but I think what says it all are the reports that at the end of the day (the court adjourned early today) the Google lawyers were cracking jokes and smiling, and Oracle's lawyers looked somber.
In other words, winning the issue of "copying" without addressing fair use gets them nothing.
7. Scott_H posted on 07 May 2012, 16:48 0 0
API probably can't be copyrighted in the U.S., but the judge wasn't going to rule on it unless the jury found infringement.
10. dallas90733 posted on 07 May 2012, 17:23 0 0
Outside of Android, do any other major OS use java?, maybe Google should buy WebOS. and leave all things java to Oracle mobile operating system.
11. gwuhua1984 posted on 07 May 2012, 18:07 1 0
I'm not understanding the reason why they would make decision separately on fair use and copyright. Aren't the two related in this case, Oracle is suing Google for infringement and Google is arguing that it's within fair use? If you're infringing, then it's not fair use. But if you can't decide whether if it's fair use, then copyright infringement would also be undecided.
12. taco50 (banned) posted on 07 May 2012, 18:32 0 6
Yet another case of google copying from others. I hope they get hammered with pay outs to Oracle for this.
13. tedkord posted on 07 May 2012, 19:05 3 1
Do you ever get tired of being wrong, or are you just so used to it you don't even notice?
15. stealthd posted on 07 May 2012, 20:54 0 1
Did you consider reading that to yourself first?
16. jroc74 posted on 07 May 2012, 21:58 1 1
When Apple is seen in the wrong in these types of cases....do you feel the same way?
Inquiring minds wanna know....
And I suggest you read the entire article...or pay attention to some key phrases. In the end ..Google might come out ok.
14. Droid_X_Doug posted on 07 May 2012, 19:39 2 2
@tedkord - it is muscle memory for taco. If Android appears in the article title, he immediately posts something negative about Android, without ever reading the substance of the article. taco might even be something of a targeted spambot....
18. ardent1 posted on 07 May 2012, 23:57 0 1
Another case of the pot calling the kettle black.
17. parkwaydr posted on 07 May 2012, 22:57 2 1
I love how these things work. "I didn't make this, but I bought the company that did, so I'm gonna sue you now because your really popular and profitable and I'm failing even though you've been on the market for years and ive never once had a problem with you, until now of course when you have money, and I don't."
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