Oracle Sues Google Over Java in Android Devices

By Geoff Duncan Published August 13, 2010

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Database giant Oracle has filed a lawsuit (PDF) against Google in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, claiming Google’s open source Android operating system infringes on seven patents related to Java. In its complaint, Oracle alleges Google was fully aware of the Java patents, and even to the extent of hiring some of Sun’s Java engineers to work on the project. Oracle is seeing a jury trail and unspecified damages.

Recommended Videos

“In developing Android, Google knowingly, directly, and repeatedly infringed Oracle’s Java-related intellectual property” an Oracle spokesperson wrote in a statement. “This lawsuit seeks appropriate remedies for their infringement.”

Google has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

Google’s Android operating system includes the Dalvik virtual machine, which is a Java-compatible register-based system developed independently of Sun Microsystems’ Java virtual machine. Oracle claims the Dalvik VM infringes on Sun’s Java patents, which Oracle acquired when it bought Sun for $7.4 billion in 2009.

Dalvik is the primary platform for developing native applications for Android devices. However, Google’s Android SDK has its own runtime and compiler—Java applications cannot simply be copied over to Android devices, they must be recompiled.

Prior to its acquisition by Oracle, Sun had tried to shutter the Harmony Project, an effort at the Apache Software Foundation to create an Apache-licensed Java SE (Standard Edition) implementation. Android includes class libraries from Harmony.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Mobile

Intriguing feature shows Google’s serious about security in Android 16

Google is taking security seriously in Android 16, and features proving it are beginning to be spotted inside code for apps related to the next version of its mobile operating system. One such feature is being referred to as the Intrusion Detection System, and it has been found inside code for the Google Play Services app, along with references to it in Android 16 according to a report by Android Authority.

The Intrusion Detection System’s name gives much of its functionality away. It collects data on specific network and device activity, and stores it in a secure, encrypted log, ready for you to examine should you suspect your device or Google account has been hacked or accessed without your approval. It’s not clear if the feature will directly alert you to suspicious activity though.

Computing

Android’s desktop mode for phones is taking shape, and it looks familiar

Google’s mobile operating system comes with a hidden desktop mode that opens on an external screen, mimicking what you would get from a computing interface. However, it is buried within the developer mode, and it's far from polished to get any serious work done.

The company, however, continues building a next-gen experience for Android’s native desktop mode. The overarching idea is to turn your phone and tablet into a desktop computing device. Mishaal Rahman, over at Android Authority, was able to enable this mode in the latest beta build of Android 16, though he warns that it might not be ready for the stable release in the coming months.

Mobile

If you don’t already use Google to scan documents, this update makes it a must

Cleanup feature for document scan on Pixel phones.

A fresh Google update has quietly rolled out which makes scanning documents with your phone, specifically with Google Drive, better than ever.

Google already lets you scan documents using your smartphone camera combined with the power of its various apps. These include Google Drive, Files by Google and the Pixel Camera app.