Google vs Oracle lawsuit and what it means for the future of android

[SIZE=6]Google loses Android battle and could owe Oracle billions of dollars[/SIZE]

By Danielle Wiener-Bronner March 27, 2018: 7:28 PM ET

Google just lost a major copyright case that could cost it billions of dollars and change how tech companies approach software development.
An appeals court said on Tuesday that Google violated copyright laws when it used Oracle’s open-source Java software to build the Android platform in 2009.
Tuesday’s ruling is the latest development in a topsy-turvy eight-year battle between Google (GOOG) and Oracle (ORCL).

Oracle first brought its case against Google in 2010, claiming that Android infringes two patents that Oracle holds on its Java software, a ubiquitous programming language powering everything from phones to websites.
In 2012, a jury determined that Java does not deserve protection under copyright law. Two years later, an appeals court overturned the ruling, raising the question of whether Google’s use of Oracle’s API violated copyright law.

A jury determined in 2016 that Google’s use of Oracle’s APIs was legal under the copyright law’s fair use doctrine, which allows the free use of copyrighted material under specific circumstances. Oracle appealed the decision, and a judge took its side on Tuesday.

“There is nothing fair about taking a copyrighted work verbatim and using it for the same purpose and function as the original in a competing platform,” a panel of three Federal Circuit judges wrote in Tuesday’s opinion.
Oracle said in a statement on Tuesday that the recent “decision protects creators and consumers.” Google said it is weighing its next steps. It could appeal to the full slate of judges on the court.
“We are disappointed the court reversed the jury finding that Java is open and free for everyone,” a Google spokesman said in a statement. “This type of ruling will make apps and online services more expensive for users. We are considering our options.”
Related: Jury sides with Google in billion dollar Oracle suit
Another court will decide how much Google owes Oracle in damages.

As of 2016, Oracle was seeking about $9 billion from Google. But because APIs have become much more widespread over the years, a court could decide that Oracle deserves more, said Christopher Carani, a partner with McAndrews, Held & Malloy and a professor at Northwestern’s law school.
“The numbers in this case will be staggering,” he added.
The verdict is likely to eclipse the current largest copyright verdict of $1.3 billion, awarded to Oracle when it sued rival SAP in 2010.
Google isn’t the only company that stands to lose from this decision. Many others rely on open-source software to develop their own platforms. Tuesday’s ruling means that some will either have pay to license certain software or develop their own from scratch.
“The decision is going to create a significant shift in how software is developed worldwide,” Carani said. “It really means that copyright in this context has teeth.”

“Sometimes free is not really free,” he added.
— CNNMoney’s David Goldman contributed reporting.
March 27
NEW YORK

Interesting. I would also like to know the future of Android from this point. Interesting programming times ahead.

Why do I have a feeling that kuna msee anadai kuchomoa OS yake but anadai kutumia success ya android kupenya

Orcale bought Sun sysem just to sue google

Since android Nougat Google has been using open non infringing api’s. So if Google is to pay they will pay for android Mashmallow n below

They stopped using those non infringing api’s in Mashmallow.

hasn’t Google been developing a new OS,I think they had an inkling that they might lose and came up with an alternative.

Looks like Google have been preparing for this already
They have started developing a new open source OS from scratch called FUCHSIA

Also Google have started supporting Kotlin for Android app development to break away from java dependency

https://www.google.de/amp/s/www.infoworld.com/article/3224868/java/what-is-kotlin-the-java-alternative-explained.amp.html

These american companies/corporations wanapenda malawsuit sana yaani they can sue each other for more than 10 years bila kuback down

Kotlin still depends on some java apis so bado iko sida juu Kotlin is based on Java.

Those platforms are where a majority of their users reside.