Oracle Accuses Google of|Violating Java Patents

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - Google's Android operating system violates Oracle Corp.'s patents and copyrights for the Java platform, Oracle claims in Federal Court.

Oracle's popular Java platform is used by more than 6.5 million software developers, mainly because it's platform-independent, which means its applications can be run on a wide range of operating systems, according to the lawsuit.

Oracle says it acquired the patents and copyrights to Java when it bought Sun Microsystems in January.

Google's Android competes with Java as an operating system for cell phones and other mobile devices.

"The Android operating system software 'stack' consists of Java applications running on a Java-based object-oriented application framework," Oracle claims.

The tech rival alleges that Google "actively and knowingly" infringed on seven of its Java patents, and that Google's "acts of infringement have been and continue to be willful, deliberate, and in reckless disregard of Oracle America's patent rights."

According to Oracle, "Google has been aware of Sun's patent portfolio ... since the middle of this decade, when Google hired certain former Sun Java engineers."

Oracle wants Google held liable for the alleged infringement and seeks an order barring the search giant from further patent and copyright violations.

It also demands treble damages and court costs, and is represented by Michael Jacobs with Morrison & Foerster in Palo Alto, Calif.

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