Oracle Corp. has accused Google Inc. of patent and copyright infringement. Much of the dispute is over Google’s Android, the mobile operating system that now powers more than 300 million smartphones and tablet computers.
Here are key developments in that case:
Jan. 27, 2010: Oracle closes deal to buy Sun Microsystems and gets the Java computer programming language and related technology that is central to the lawsuit.
Aug. 12: Oracle sues Google in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Oracle says Google’s Android system for mobile phones infringes on its patented Java technology.
Sept. 12, 2011: The CEOs of both companies are ordered to attend a court-supervised attempt to settle a lawsuit. They attend sessions on Sept. 19 and 21 with no settlement reached.
March 27, 2012: In a joint statement, the two companies indicate they are far apart of key matters. Oracle is seeking hundreds of millions in damages, while Google believes it won’t have to pay more than a few million dollars.
April 16: Trial begins, with the copyright issues central to the first phase. In opening statements, Oracle says Google’s top executives have long known that they stole a key piece of technology to build Android.
April 17: Google’s opening statements frame the case as Oracle’s response to its own failure to build mobile software. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison admits under questioning by Google that Oracle wanted to compete with Android before deciding instead to sue Google. Google CEO Larry Page also takes the stand, sporting a suit and tie that is a departure from his usual casual attire.
April 18: Page returns to the witness stand. The taciturn Page often looked uncomfortable, as he deflected questions about his role. He frequently said he couldn’t remember seeing some of the internal Google documents that Oracle is using to build its case.
Monday: Lawyers make closing arguments on the copyright issues. Judge sends case to jury for deliberations.
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