The details of the decade-plus dispute: In the case, which dates back to 2010, Google is accused of exploiting pieces of API code developed by Sun Microsystems, which was later acquired by Oracle.
Google has argued that this type of code is often used freely by developers to increase interoperability between different products, and that even if the code is copyrighted – as Oracle argued – it should be covered by the law ‘fair use’ provisions, which constitutes the unlicensed use of otherwise copyrighted material under certain circumstances.
Oracle argued that the code was copyrighted, that it had to be paid for by Google’s use of it, and that although some standard codes were exempted from protection, the Java code was anything but standard.
The Supreme Court put him on Google’s side, saying: ‘Google’s copying of the Java SE API, which contains only the code rules needed to enable programmers to turn their built-in talents into a new and transformative program to make work was a reasonable use of that material as a matter of law. ”
What lies beneath: Google and Oracle are fierce political opponents, with each party arguing that the other is playing unfair not only in the business world but also in the technological policy debates that have gripped Washington in recent years. It ranges from antitrust to privacy to how much latitude online platforms should have for policing user posts on their sites.
What’s next: Google’s victory in the case could give him and his allies political momentum, as it will give the bigger policy battles in the coming months and years.