A jury decided that Google’s use of 37 Java APIs constitutes “fair use” and does not infringe on Oracles copyrights.
The decision caps a two-week trial that saw Oracle once again claim Google stole its Java code when first creating the Android operating system back in 2007 and 2008. Google has long held to the argument that Java — the underlying basis for Android — is free and open for anyone to use.
Oracle came into ownership of the APIs in question when it purchased Sun Microsystems. The company first filed legal complaints against Google in 2010.
The first trial in 2012 found that APIs couldn’t be copyright, but that decision was later overturned in 2014. Today’s decision will likely be appealed by Oracle, but puts the matter that much closer to rest.
