Oracle's $2.2bn claim against Android is flawed claims Google

SMARTPHONE DEVELOPER Google has urged the judge in its case against Oracle over Android to reject a $2.2bn claim made by Oracle.

Oracle sued Google last year over its Android operating system claiming Google's software infringes Java patents. Oracle originally asked for $6.1bn in damages but US District Judge William Alsup rejected that figure, ordering Oracle to go away and come up with something a bit more reasonable.

Eventually Oracle and its expert witness, Iain Cockburn, returned with a figure of $2.2bn. Cockburn recommended damages of more than $2bn for copyright infringement, $1.2bn of which was for "unjust enrichment" and $201.8m for patent infringement. Google is claiming that figure is "flawed".

Judge Alsup had previously rebuked Google for trying to play down the importance of Android in order to lower any damage award. He also gave Google a ticking off for trying to use its earlier talks with Sun over Java licensing as another way of lowering any potential damages.

Previously Judge Alsup had said both firms should start negotiations around the $100m mark, though with the trial expected to start in October, there's not much time for the two companies to come to an agreement.

Negotiations between Google and Oracle not only feature expert witnesses but also two of the most powerful CEOs in the technology industry. Google CEO Larry Page and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison were both ordered to appear at mediation in a bid to get things sorted, though a resolution looks further away than ever. µ