Talk:Oracle v. Google (2010, USA)

OpenJDK

I don't quite understand what the author means with this information:

-8<- Rumor was the OpenJDK was only for desktop distribution, and Java Micro Edition (JavaME) was not under the GPL license. Thus we can have a debate about whether or not the desktop OpenJDK can actually be used on a mobile platform such as Android. (Of course, the counter-argument is that hardware keeps getting more powerful, with the smartphones of today having the ~same CPU power as a desktop from 10 years ago, which was after the introduction of Java on the desktop in 1996...so what actually constitutes "mobile"?) -8<-

Android has a 'normal' Java implementation (bytecode is incompatible, sourcecode is compatible. Which is actually the point where all the fuss is about). Dalvik doesn't implement any of the Java ME API's. Also Java ME isn't a different Java distribution, its just a set API's for mobile devices on top of Java. There is no Desktop, Mobile or Server Java, they are just API's on top of basic Java. The OpenJDK implements the SE (Standard Edition) set of API's (Dalvik implements a large set of the SE API's, not all of them) . Android provides its own set of API's for mobile devices on top SE.

The biggest problem (IMHO) for using OpenJDK would be that since the bytecode of Dalvik is incompatible with the rest of the world (Hotspot, OpenJDK, BEA JRockit, etc. etc.) everyone would have to recompile there programs and redistribute them (This is also the real reason for the lawsuit).

KermitTheFragger 11:55, 11 September 2010 (EDT)

Some of that section will have to be cleaned up. I'm not sure that documenting rumours has any value for anti-swpat campaigns. Anyway...

JavaME is distributed by Oracle under GPLv2 as "PhotoME": Java_and_patents#What_exactly_was_distributed_under_GPLv2

I've never written Java, so don't know much about the differences between the various editions. If you see errors or stuff that needs to be more explicit, do jump in and edit the page! Ciaran 12:08, 11 September 2010 (EDT)

I vote for removeing the entire section about 'Rumor was the OpenJDK was...' since Java ME does not have anything to do with this lawsuit.

I also have a remark about this section: "The test suites are only available to JCP members and have a restriction that limits the use of the tested software to desktops."

The TCK's (ie. 'Technology Compatibility Kit', the test suits) are are available for all standards in the JCP, including all non-desktop like: Java EE (Enterprise), JDBC, JavaMail, etc. The problem (among things) is Dalvik produces incompatible bytecode and therefor fails the TCK for Java SE.

This whole lawsuit doesn't have as much to do with Java as most people think (Or I got it wrong, which is also possible ;-). Strictly speaking Dalvik is not a Java implementation because it fails the TCK's. Oracle could also use patents like "Controlling Access To A Resource" on Mono or Microsoft for their .Net implementation since their inner workings resemble those of Java.

--KermitTheFragger 12:37, 11 September 2010 (EDT)

(quick reply) Those patents might apply to Mono, but Mono is covered by the OIN licence that Oracle signed, so Oracle can't sue Mono users. Ciaran 12:46, 11 September 2010 (EDT)

(Also an quick reply ;-) My knowledge about OIN is limited, so I wonder; Why can Oracle sue Google (who is an OIN licensee) over Android but wouldn't be able to sue Novell over Mono over the same patent ?

--KermitTheFragger 13:45, 11 September 2010 (EDT)

Because Android/Dalvik isn't on OIN's list of approved software: http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/pat_linuxdefpop.html

GNU Classpath is on the approved list, so if Google built on top of GNU Classpath, they might have been protected. Ciaran 14:35, 11 September 2010 (EDT)

Mono is listed as version 1.1.10 in that list, that release is over 5 years old. Does that mean that the patent pledge doesn't cover the 2.X branche ? --KermitTheFragger 15:42, 11 September 2010 (EDT)

Yes, unfortunately. The scope of the OIN coverage isn't very clear. Maybe it would cover all the features that were in 1.1.10. So if someone had patents on features that are new in 2.X, they couldn't count on OIN for protection. Ciaran 15:59, 11 September 2010 (EDT)

This brings me back to my original point; Oracle could sue Microsoft (since MS it is not part of the OIN) over .Net for the same set of patents it is now sueing Google for its Java implementation. And if Oracle wanted they could probably sue Novell for Mono 2.X over the same set of patents or at the very least find patent infringements which were introduced in 2.X. So IMHO the scope of this extends beyond Java. --KermitTheFragger 17:23, 11 September 2010 (EDT)

Here's the answer: The promise is also for any "Successor Release of any of such packages" - but Successor Release is narrowly defined. [1] Ciaran 18:07, 26 October 2010 (EDT)

Quick Reply: There was Microsoft-Sun cross-licensing deal in 2004, when Microsoft paid $1.6 for use of Java patents in order to settle anti-trust case that Sun brought up against them. And I think it is 10-year deal (but not sure). So I think Oracle (unfortunately) can't sue Microsoft before 2014.

Removing rumours

I just removed three paragraphs. Here's my edit: [2].

The first paragraph was a rumour. The second paragraph was an erroneous question about whether JavaME is GPL'd (it is). The third was speculation and seems to presume broader licence changes than would take place in reality.

In general, those three paragraphs were low quality in terms of on-topicness. Whether Google loves or hate GPLv2 is important for analysts who want to make predictions, but that's not what we're doing. Ciaran 20:27, 29 October 2010 (EDT)

Unusual patent number

It's because it's a reissued patent. The patent number is 05367685.

Thanks! I'll update the article. Ciaran 10:22, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

All trivial patents?

The quoted claims seem to all be completely trivial.

Shouldn't Google be able to get them all invalidated easily? (even without prior art)

Invalidating is never easy. For one example, see Amazon's 1-click patent. The review process took five full years, and the end result was that it was narrowed but upheld.

But let's see what we can gather anyway - it could be useful for this case or for a future case. Ciaran 14:24, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

Actually, looking deeper, the problem is that the parts quoted here (the first claim, which the patent then expands upon) don't seem to very representative of the actual patents, which do have more specific detail.

You should probably remove the quotes and either reproduce the full patent, write a summary or just have a link.

Private / Protected

From the page:

Prior art: This is C++ private / protected.

No, those apply at the level of individual members - not classes.

Whoever made that comment regarding not classes is incorrect. Private/protected can be applied to members AND classes in C++. As well as C# and probably some other languages.

Sublicensing and free software licenses

The part that reads "Further, this grant does not include the right to sublicense. That is incompatible with any free software licence and means that only meeting all of the six onerous requirements would actually grant a patent license" needs some expansion or clarification as to why not allowing sublicensing is incompatible with free software licenses.

Consider that GPLv3 explicitly prohibits sublicensing (last sentence of section 2, "Conveying under any other circumstances is permitted solely under the conditions stated below. Sublicensing is not allowed; section 10 makes it unnecessary."). Section 10 is the section that says when you convey the GPLv3 work, the recipient receives a license from the original licensor.

That seems to indicate that it is OK in a copyright license to prohibit sublicensing yet still be compatible with free software. I don't see why it would be different in a patent license.

That's a good question. I'll trying to find an answer. (Or if someone else has the answer, I would be interested to hear it.) Ciaran 17:56, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

Oracle not bound by GPL

Since Oracle owns the complete copyrights to the JDK source code and the GPL is a license regulating redistribution, they are not bound by the terms of the GPL: they are redistributing the software to you without conditions on them. The GPL imposes conditions only on the recipients. So, on the whole, that means that Oracle can sue anybody for patent infringement, even people using the software under the GPL.

This is also clear from the remedy: if you violate the GPL by suing, you lose the rights to redistribute the software, but that obviously doesn't make any sense for Oracle: they own the complete copyright, including for commercial distribution, so they can't lose the rights to distributing the software. -178.26.85.27

You must make clear distinction between own and others' modifications. By suing you can loose rights to distribute others' contributions to the Work, but of course, not your own (that is correct). The problem is that all of the copyrights were given by their respective first owners to Sun (and now to Oracle). But I'd like to correct you: GPL imposes conditions ONLY ON DISTRIBUTORS. Recepients, if they do not redistribute, are not bound by it. Even if they modify, as long as the modification is not released, they do not need to show the code. That's why SaaS is such a big problem: Technically it's the servers that use the modified GPL software, not the users. Users only see the result (and that's where AGPL comes in which does forces in-house modifications to be made free). -78.134.136.103

Is there anything to prove this idea? (Such as a comment from a lawyer specialised in copyright)

Have other GPL'd projects successfully claimed that the GPL doesn't apply to them because they own the copyright of their software? Ciaran 12:46, 7 December 2010 (EST)

That is wrong interpretation. There is difference between restrictions and permissions. Oracle have given a implicit patent grant, which is permission and it is irrevocable, much like GPL's copyright license which is also irrevocable. If parent post's interpretation is correct, that would mean that every company that releases code under GPL could revoke it tomorrow because they own all the code, and that nobody is allowed to fork prior versions. Luckily this is wrong, or else Free Software movement wouldn't live this long. No matter if Oracle owns all the code, they can't sue users for patent infringement (nor for copyright infringement) if users obey GPL. GPL is only revoked upon violation. Well.. they can try suing, but only thing defendant would need to do to win the case is show GPL to the judge and Oracle would probably get charged for disrespect of court. However, restrictions of GPL are another matter. Those don't apply on copyright holder because copyright holder is one that is supposed to enforce those restrictions, and that effectively means that Oracle can make Java proprietary since they own all copyrights and they wont enforce restrictions on themselves. (That is how that Open-Core business model works.) But is also means we can fork last Free version of Java and compete with Oracle, so I don't think they'll do it.

Humanity is witness

All those who have been using the internet for the last 20 years are witness that Google has infringed every sun patent. I think it is time someone sizes up Google.