An appeals court today overturned a 2012 verdict that largely exonerated Google from infringing on Oracle’s Java copyrights.
Today’s reversal puts Google back on the hook for violating the copyrights of some 37 APIs for the Java language that were incorporated into the Android operating system. The Federal Circuit of Appeals in Washington is sending the case back to the original judge, who is now expected to determine if Google’s use of the copyrighted APIs represents fair use or unlawful infringement.
If it falls under fair use, Google may not have to pay damages. Oracle had sought $1 billion in the original case, first filed in 2010. Neither Oracle nor Google offered immediate comment on today’s ruling.
