Info Tech
Oracle Seeks to Revive Claim Google’s Android Copied Code
NEW YORK – Oracle Corp. (ORCL) asked a U.S. appeals court today to let it pursue claims Google Inc. owes it more than $1 billion for building its Android operating system, the most popular platform for mobile phones, using copied code.
Google “took the most important, the most appealing” parts of Oracle’s Java programming language to create Android, Oracle lawyer Josh Rosenkranz of Orrick Herrington in New York told a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington.
The appeal centers on whether copyright protection is available for application programming interfaces, shortcut tools used in software to perform basic functions such as connecting to the Internet. Oracle is trying to overturn a judge’s finding that legal protection isn’t available for Java’s interfaces, which lets developers write programs that work across operating systems.
The case has split companies between those who write interface code and those who rely on it to develop their own software programs, with Microsoft Corp. joining arguments that upholding the district court’s finding “would destabilize the software industry.”
During 90 minutes of arguments, the judges indicated they may side with Oracle on that issue. Circuit Judge Kathleen O’Malley said that Java was freely available to programmers didn’t negate its ability to obtain copyright protection, nor did the fact that it was widely used.
Billion-Dollar Damages
Should the appeals court say the packages are copyright protected, the next step would be will decide if Google’s actions were permissible because it used only a portion of the code to create a new product.
Rosenkranz said the panel can rule there was no fair use of the copyrights, while Google lawyer Bob Van Nest said the issue would need to be remanded to the trial court for further review.
Oracle sought as much as $6.1 billion in damages from Google before the estimate was thrown out by the judge before trial. It could still seek more than $1 billion.
Oracle, the world’s largest database-software maker, says Google used interfaces without permission — or paying — because it was behind schedule in developing Android and needed the operating system to extend its Internet advertising dominance to mobile devices. The result was to supplant Java and eliminate Oracle’s ability to capitalize on the boom in smartphones, Rosenkranz said.
Functional Steps
Rather than write code for basic things like how to organize security functions, Google copied the Java interfaces to speed up Android’s creation and allow independent developers to come up with the applications that consumers now demand, according to Oracle.
“Google took the code for its own uses and it did it to leverage Oracle’s fan base,” Rosenkranz said.
Google, based in Mountain View, California, said those interfaces are functional steps, similar to providing map directions. Android developers came up with the millions of line of original code that makes the platform work, said Van Nest, of Keker & Van Nest in San Francisco.
“Google was very careful to only use what was structural,” he told the panel. “No one was able to use the Java language as a smartphone platform.”
Java was created by Sun Microsystems Inc. in the mid-1990s. Redwood City, California-based Oracle announced it was buying Sun in 2009 for $7.4 billion and sued a year later. Google said the code constitutes fundamental programming interfaces used by the entire industry for free. It accused Oracle of trying to backpedal on Sun pledges that Java would remain free.
Apple, Microsoft
O’Malley questioned whether Google would have been able to use interfaces developed by Apple Inc. or Microsoft, which make competing operating systems.
“Yes, but only the command structure,” Van Nest said. “They would have to rewrite millions of lines of code. That’s what Android did — 15 million lines of Android code are all original.”
Separately, Google is appealing a jury verdict that it copied other parts of Java dealing with the implementation of the software. Van Nest asked the court to rule that the nine lines of code found to be copied were so insignificant that it didn’t matter.
Microsoft, NetApp Inc. and EMC Corp. filed written arguments supporting Oracle’s argument. Rackspace Inc., a group of computer scientists and the Application Developers Alliance are siding with Google, saying the specific packages in the case are little more than directions without creativity.
The Federal Circuit, which specializes in patent law, is hearing the case because Oracle also had claimed patent infringement. Oracle isn’t appealing the jury loss on that issue. A decision on the copyright claims isn’t expected for several months.
– BLOOMBERG
In efforts at spicing up the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, the management of ITREALMS Media has partnered with E-waste Producer Responsibility Organization of Nigeria (EPRON) membership organisations for a day-long collection scheme of small electronic waste on Friday, December 15, 2023.
The EPRON members aligning their partnership with 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue are EL-AS Tech Enterprises Limited and WEEE Eco-Friendly.
ITREALMS’ day-long collection scheme is part of the commemoration of 2023 international E-Waste Day (IEWD) within the ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue with the theme “You Can Recycle Anything with a plug, battery or cable” at Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.
Revealing this collaboration, the Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media, the organisers of the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, Sir. Remmy Nweke, urged mobile device enthusiasts to come along with their devices that have reached their end-of-life to the venue for proper disposition by professionals who would also be on grounds to address some topical issues.
The collection of small electronic wastes especially mobile phones and like-devices, would be carried out by EPRON member organisation, EL-AS Tech Enterprises Limited as facilitated by ITREALMS Media group as part of this year’s ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue on Friday, December 15, he added.
He disclosed that the exercise would commence at Welcome Centre Hotel by 9am till close of work hours the same day.
Nweke pointed out that the collection of small e-waste items would include mobile phones, pointers mouse, earpieces, rechargeable torches, phone chargers, to name a few.
Further, he said, that this initiative has become time-serving because some people may have missed any other opportunity before now for the year-long campaign, hence this awareness on e-Waste has to be continuous, “ITREALMS came up with this scheme.”
Nweke beckoned on Nigerians, especially mobile phone users, to leverage the opportunity in disposing of their mobile devices they no longer use, of course in exchange for a voucher or gift item.
In her reaction to this year’s day-long small waste collection, EPRON Executive Secretary, Mrs. Ibukun Faluyi, described the initiative as commendable, expressing confidence it would intensify the collection of end-of-life devices for proper disposition.
Mrs. Faluyi, also urged Nigerians to take advantage of this day-long collection of small wastes courtesy of ITREALMS Media.
Recalling for instance that in October 2022, EPRON had partnered SLOT alongside some UN agencies for collection of small e-waste items in Lagos, including the United Nations Information Centres (UNIC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
This is even as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Aminu Maida and Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Aliyu Jauro, would both lead speakers at the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue slated for this Friday, December 15, in Lagos.
Today, September 12, the tech corporation Apple will introduce the iPhone 15, their newest iPhone model.
According to a Forbes story, this model, which will be introduced at the company’s “Wanderlust” event in Cupertino, California, will be available in four variations: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Here are five things you should know about the new iPhone 15 model.
1. The new model is made of titaniu, not stainless steel as some other Apple smartphone models, Senior research analyst at DIGITIMES, Luke Lin reports.
2. The Pro Max model will feature double the optical zoom on the iPhone 14 as it comes with a newly-introduced ‘periscope lens upgrade, performing 5-6x optical zoom.’
3. The Pro models will carry an A17 bionic chip expected to make it perform faster.
4. The iPhone 15 model will feature a USB-C charging port, the same port featured on some Android phone models.
5. Due to its titanium shell, the new model is anticipated to be more expensive to purchase. The following is the speculated price list, as reported by Forbes:
The iPhone 15 starts at $799, the iPhone 15 Plus at $899, the iPhone 15 Pro at $1,099 ($100 increase), and the iPhone 15 Pro Max at $1,299 ($200 increase).
In an effort to reduce the exorbitant cost of Premium Motor Spirit, better known as petrol, the Infrastructure Bank Plc announced its collaboration with FEMADEC Group on Monday to offer 500 buses powered by autogas (Compressed Natural Gas).
Partners in the agreement claimed that the project was created to provide citizens with dependable, affordable, and environmentally friendly travel options, taking into account the negative effects of the nationwide increase in PMS costs.
Under Decree No. 51 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1992 Constitution, the Infrastructure Bank, originally known as the Urban Development Bank of Nigeria Plc, was founded in 1992 to promote the quick development of infrastructure throughout the nation.
In a statement issued in Abuja on its partnership with FEMADEC, the bank said, “The preliminary offer extended by TIB lays a solid foundation for the expansion of FEMADEC Group’s CNG bus fleet.
“With plans to introduce 500 CNG buses within the next five years, commencing with an initial batch of 50 buses in the forthcoming year, this proposal stands poised to instigate significant change.
“The acceptance of this proposition by FEMADEC Group, notably championed by Fola Akinnola, the Group Chief Executive Officer, is a testament to their zeal and dedication to this alliance.”
The bank described the partnership as a “pivotal endeavour that is primed to redefine Nigeria’s public transportation landscape, offering dependable, cost-effective, and ecologically conscious travel alternatives for citizens, while harmonising with the nation’s broader sustainability ambitions.”
“This partnership represents a remarkable stride towards a more ecologically aware future for Nigeria’s transportation sector, highlighting the shared commitment of both TIB and FEMADEC Group to sustainable advancement and progress.”
It said FEMADEC Group’s strides in operating Compressed Natural Gas buses, including the existing fleet of 20 CNG buses under LAMATA, underscored their unwavering dedication to ecologically sound solutions, a commitment predating the fuel subsidy removal.
“Their leadership within the CNG value chain is undeniable, and the new alliance with TIB underscores their foresight.
“This partnership seamlessly aligns with TIB’s sustainability objectives, echoing their resolute endorsement of the government’s net-zero and climate change agenda.
“The bank’s aspiration to champion Nigeria’s infrastructure progress is evident in its endorsement of pivotal initiatives like this, yielding expansive positive impacts on both the environment and society,” the bank stated.
The bank added that it would continue to make a significant contribution to the country’s growth as a leading financial institution committed to advancing effective and long-lasting infrastructure projects.
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