The Battle for Java: And It Could Setup The Future of Software

Java was created by the mighty Sun Microsystems. It could be run under licence, and so when Google created Android they used Java, but recreated their own run time environment. But, rather than getting Sun Microsystems to sign a licence agreement for this, they just went ahead and created Android. When Oracle aquired Sun Microsystems, it could see the potential of suing Google for its now licenced usage of Java. And so first they tried a patent case, and lost, but then won over a non-signing of a licencing agrement. The US Supreme Court say they are now willing to take on an appeal related to copyright case, and it will provide a landmark ruling for the rest of the software industry.

2018 ruling

Google is currently facing a fine of $9 billion in damages for breaching the Java copyright and has taken it to the Supreme Court [here]:

For Google the fight is not just about the damages, but on the future of software development [here]: