Judge allows Oracle to keep Java copyright claims

SOFTWARE VENDOR Oracle will be allowed to press most of its copyright infringement claims against Google over the Java programming language.

Oracle has sued Google over its use of Java in the Android operating system, claiming the firm infringed patents and copyrights. Oracle is seeking billions in damages, while Google has tried to bolster its patent portfolio in order to rebuff legal challenges from Oracle and other firms.

US District Judge William Alsup denied Google's motion for summary judgment to dismiss Oracle's Java copyright claims before trial. That means the majority of the copyright infringement claims made by Oracle against Google will go before the jury at trial.

Oracle obtained Java with its buyout of Sun Microsystems. The widely used programming language is a key part of Google's Android operating system and other companies will be looking at this case to see whether they might be caught out by Oracle in their use of Java in the future.

While Oracle had asked for billions in damages from Google, it was ordered to revise that figure down and both Oracle and Google confirmed that such an offer had been submitted to the court. However neither party would disclose the amount.

Judge Alsup had indicated that the trial between Google and Oracle will start before November, which will have Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Google CEO Larry Page in attendance. That is, unless the firms can come to an agreement. µ