Oracle wins against Google in Java API lawsuit

This sounds like it could be troubling for any Java programmer out there that uses Java APIs in writing their Java application.  What is the feeling on this latest ruling in the Oracle vs Google Java API battle?

Perhaps those more knowledgeable can explain exactly what Oracle was claiming as copyright. Sun Microsystems released Java as open source, including the core code and libraries.  Oracle purchase of Sun Microsystems does not undo that.

This is a good win by Oracle but the case is still far from over as this ruling basically agreed that APIs can be protected under U.S. copyright law. This post has a pretty detailed explanation about the case - http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/oracle-v-google-the-bewildering-java-trial-explained/#!LWe1U

Here's a quick snippet from the post -

While the company agrees Java is a free language and anyone can use it, Oracle contends that if people want to assert that their applications are Java-compatible, they need to license a certification suite. Sure, anyone can use Java, but, basically, if they want to put the Java coffee-cup logo on their product, they need to pay Oracle. Moreover, Oracle insists the Java API is copyrightable as a specific expression of an idea. If APIs are found to be copyrightable — and, once again, that still hasn’t been determined — that will effectively make the “free” Java something different than open source, since (in theory) Java programmers would need a license to use Java “for free.”

So what this will mean is that every Java programmer out there that has used the APIs can now be sued by Oracle to pay them for the use of the APIs even if the applications were written BEFORE Oracle obtained Java; this was the case for Google, Oracle sued them after they obtained Java when Android was created when Sun Microsystems still owned Java, or actually when they didn't because Java was released to open source.  I don't see this as a positive thing.  It may be a good win for Oracle but it is a lost for Java programmers and the Java community.  Of course the solution going forward is to not use the APIs but that means a lot more work for the programmers.

When Oracle purchased Sun Microsystems, they got access to all their patents and so they have full rights to file a case against Google or anyone that infringes their copyrighted material. 

Personally, I was a big Google fan in the past but their recent policies have pissed me off and I am not their fan anymore. The "faster images search" change was the worst by Google in the recent past and affected thousands of web-masters as you can see from the comments on their official blog post here -> http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.ca/2013/01/faster-image-search.html

I really hope Facebook Audience Network (FAN) gives stiff competion to Google Adsense :)

I am no fan of Google and even less of one of Oracle as I have followed the company over the years.  Larry Ellison is more of an arse than Steve Jobs was.

Sun Microsystems open source all of Java, core as well as libraries.  The only way that Oracle can claim copyright is if the APIs in question were developed after they purchased Sun Microsystem; which is not the case since Android was developed before Sun Microsystems was sold.  You can purchase the "ownership" of open source code and even control the development; as in the case of OpenOffice (forked to LibreOffice because of Oracle) but you can not unmake it open source.  That is why I am confused on what is going on.