Google V. Oracle: Copyright, Fair Use And Industry Implications

BACKGROUND OF THE DISPUTE

• A suit was instituted by Oracle against Google for copyright and patent infringement in the year 2010.
• The main issue was stated to be the unauthorized usage of Oracle’s Java Application Programming Interface’s 37 packages in the Android Operating System of Google has led to the copyright and patent infringement.
• The case went through the steps of the District Court and the Court of Appeals for the Federal circuit and finally landed at the doorstep of the US Supreme Court when the decision was given against Google.

THE SYSTEMS IN DISPUTE

• The Java API is a composition of keywords and symbols which enable pre-written programs to work according to the commands given.
• The Android software took up the language of Java as its software platform for the mobile devices.
• The total packages of Java stand at more than a century and the 37 packages that Google used, were only replicated in names but the code for implementation were different than the ones in the packages.
• The usage of the names, organization and functionality of the names was claimed to be copyrightable and the act of Google to use it to not fall under Fair Use of the same.

COURT’S OBSERVATION

• Even though the usage of the software was done for commercial purposes, it would still be termed under fair use and the coding system used by Google is not closely related to the core of the coding system of Oracle.
• The Court also observed that the coding was so deeply rooted to the programmer’s coding that copyrighting it would limit the creativity of other programmers.
• Though the usage by Google was declared to be fair use, the copyrightability of the API has not been commented upon.

OPINION OF THE PARTIES

• Google opinionated that the victory is not juft for Google but also for the consumers and Computer science. This decision would stand as a pathway for future developers.
• Oracle expressed its dissent with the judgement claiming that the Google market became powerful because of this and that the Java was stolen. They claimed that the code was copyrightable and the decision was not fair.

EFFECTS OF THE JUDGMENT

• Allowing copyright to Oracle for the coding would have harmed the public interest as it is used worldwide by the programmers for creating,
• This judgment has given the users to carefully use their creativity under fair use.
• Giving Monopoly like powers to Oracle would only deter the growth and development of the world.
• Reversal of the decision of the Court of Appeal would be accepted by the many very well.

Will the use of the coding by Google fall under fair use? Will the decision be a drawback for future innovators? Let us know your opinions in the section below!