Oracle says Google knowingly 'broke the rules' with Java
Oracle and Google kicked off a high-stakes jury trial in San Francisco on Monday, with Oracle arguing that Google ran roughshod over its intellectual property rights because the search giant was scared of getting left behind in the mobile advertising business.
"This case is about Google's use, in Google's business, of somebody else's property without permission," said Michael Jacobs, an attorney for Oracle, in his opening remarks to the jury.Oracle sued Google 18 months ago, arguing that its Android operating system infringes Java patents and copyrights that Oracle acquired when it bought Sun Microsystems. Google denies any wrongdoing and says it doesn't need a license for the parts of Java it used.
Judge William Alsup, who is hearing the case, warned both sides on Monday that they'll need to show good cause for any evidence submitted at trial to be kept from the public, and that unflattering details about either side might emerge.
"Unless it's the recipe for Coca-Cola, it's going to be public," Alsup said. "If it reveals something embarrassing about the way one of these companies works, too bad. That's going to be out there for the public to see."
Most of the opening day was taken up with jury selection, but Jacobs had time to deliver Oracle's opening statement before the proceedings wrapped up. Google will give its opening statement Tuesday morning.
Jacobs cited several emails to and from Google executives that he said would show that Google knew it needed a license for Java and that, having failed to negotiate one, it developed Android with Java anyway.
Google's use of Oracle's intellectual property wasn't a mistake or the result of any confusion, Jacobs told the jury.
"The decision to use Oracle's intellectual property in Android was taken at the highest levels, with a lot of comprehension and awareness about what was going on," he said.Asics Shoes Online sale
Google made most of its money from desktop advertising, he said, and the popularity of smartphones made Google realize around 2005 that it needed a mobile software platform to stay competitive.Asics Onitsuka Tigers Shoes
Google had to develop Android quickly, and it had to attract developers to be successful, he said. "How did they meet those requirements? The answer is with components of Java."wholesale oakley sunglasses
Other companies such as eBay, Cisco Systems and General Electric bought licenses to use Java, but Google "broke the basic set of rules governing the Java community," Jacobs said.discount oakley sunglasses
Some big Silicon Valley names are expected to be called to testify in the trial. Oracle's witness list includes its CEO, Larry Ellison, Google CEO Larry Page, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and former Sun CEOs Scott McNealy and Jonathan Schwartz.
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