Ten years ago, computer technology corporation Oracle filed a lawsuit against Google for using Java application programming interfaces (APIs) in early versions of Android. After winding its way through several courts, the case finally reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which hit the hammer in favor of Google. Oracle demanded $9 billion in damages.

Oracle's argument was that Google had copied Java API code to develop Android and attract developers to the project. Oracle bought Sun Microsystems, the creator of the Java platform, in the mid-00s, and soon after filed the lawsuit against Google.

In Google's version of the story, the nearly 12 lines of Java code they copied into Android were intended so that the software could be used to connect with other programs and services, so those APIs were not subject to copyright law.

As the Supreme Court's decision put it: "Google's copying of Java's SE API, which included only the lines of code necessary to allow programmers to put their accumulated talents to work on a new and innovative program, was a fair use of that material as far as the law is concerned."

Oracle, of course, was not at all happy with the outcome of the lawsuit. Company Website, Executive Vice President Dorian Daley wrote: “They stole Java and spent a decade litigating it as only a monopoly can. This behavior is exactly why authorities around the world and in the U.S. are scrutinizing Google’s business practices.” Google is currently under investigation for anticompetitive practices In the USA e European Union.

How Ars Technica pointed out, if Oracle had prevailed, the decision could have started a flood of lawsuits against software companies that reuse APIs from other companies.

Through which channels you reach those people, classic and out of the box. Android Central

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