Quick recap:  Oracle is suing Google for illegally using their Javascript patents, which the company acquired when they bought Sun Microsystems in 2009, in developing the Android platform.  Now the two giants face each other in court.  The eight-week trial began on Monday, where Oracle gave its opening statement and members of the jury were selected.  Oracle stated that the internal Google e-mails proved the search giant copied Java codes with no intention of paying for the license.

Day 2

Yesterday was the second day of the trial, and Google lawyer Robert Van Nest gave his opening remarks, stating that the issue here is not whether Google infringed Oracle’s patent, but Oracle wanting to ride in Google’s success.

Van Nest also stated that out of the 15 million lines of code of the Android platform, only nine lines were taken from Java.  Though this may prove that Google illegally used Java, Van Nest was quick to note that using the Java codes was inconsequential and a mistake.  He also stated that the Java programming language and its APIs do not represent protectable intellectual property and Google didn’t need Java to build the Android platform.  It was also revealed that Google thought of partnering with Sun to build Android before Oracle acquired it, though when that partnership failed, they decided to work on their own.

And to prove that Oracle just wants a piece of Google’s pie, Van Nest played a video of Ellison telling former Sun Microsystems Chairman Scott McNealy at a public event that he welcomed Google’s “Java devices” and saw no reason Oracle-Sun should not have several of its own.

CEO wars

CEOs from both parties were present during the second day of trial.  Oracle CEO Larry Ellison was the first witness to take the stand.  Ellison revealed that Oracle once thought of creating their own smartphone, and considered buying Research in Motion and Palm, but decided against these.

Ellison contested that if APIs weren’t copyrightable, then why would they spend $5 billion annually on something that can reproduced and distributed for free by others?  Ellison also noted that others, like Samsung and Amazon, were licensed to use Java and Google was the only one who didn’t apply for a license.

Google CEO Larry Page also took the stand during the latter part of the trial and is expected to continue with his statements today.  Page stated that he believes they did nothing wrong.  While being cross-examined by Oracle lawyers, Page was asked if he inquired as to whether Google copied Java codes.  Page simply stated that he doesn’t recall asking that question.