Last August Oracle launched a lawsuit against Google, claiming that the Android mobile operating system violated Java patents and copyrights. As is common where legal battles between top tier technology players are concerned, information is trickling out. The latest revelation is the size of the damages Oracle is seeking, which Reuters reports as ranging from $1.4 billion to $6.1 billion.
Oracle claims Google violated seven Java patents, plus copyrighted material relating to the Java platform in its Android system. Google has denied the charges and requested that the court declare Oracle's patents invalid and unenforceable. It also claims that the damages are out of proportion to the IP at issue.
The amount of damages sought is not an indicator of how much would be awarded in the event of Oracle’s suit being successful but the size of the claim is a clear indicator of how much value Oracle sees in the smartphone market – or at least the license revenue from the use of Java in the millions of smartphones out in the market. A judgment against Google and Java would have major ramifications throughout the burgeoning Android world, which along with the iPhone and related applications market, represents the next wave in mobile and smartphone developments.
Even if it were successful against Google, it is highly unlikely that Oracle would pursue damaging action beyond the Google business walls (in theory Oracle could petition to have all devices that use the disputed technology destroyed). Not only is it too lucrative a market for Oracle, the ramifications for Oracle’s brand would be unthinkable. Oracle understands business and is more interested in gaining revenue and market share than destroying a major opportunity. But this is also a battle of two giants seeking market supremacy.