Consequences Worry
Smartphone manufacturers using the Android operating system are paying a lot of attention to the result of the copyright lawsuit between Google and Oracle.
Back in 2010, Oracle filed a claim for damages against Google, alleging that some features of the OS infringed upon Java copyrights. Late last month, the Supreme Court of the United States told Google to pay Oracle approximately one trillion won (approximately one billion dollars) in royalties.
This has reminded smartphone manufacturers of the case of Microsoft. Every smartphone maker using Android OS has paid patent royalties to Microsoft since the court ruling in the U.S. that some of Microsoft's patents are found in the OS.
Handset manufacturers are refraining from making a comment. “This Oracle case involves copyrights, not patents as in the case of Microsoft,” said a local manufacturer, adding, “As far as I know, copyright issues are handled between the parties directly concerned, and manufacturers like us are in no position to mention anything.”
A stock market analyst, in the meantime, said that Oracle’s move holds the key. “Patent issues depend heavily on legal interpretations and are closed related to sizable patent royalties, which means things can be pretty fun during the rest of this year,” he added.