Oracle has put in a lawsuit against Google for over $9.3B in reparations because of copyright infringement of Google over its using of Java in Android. Oracle charged Google over six years ago stating that they need a license in order to use parts of the Java platform in the Google's mobile operating system. In the trial in 2012, there was a dilemma in whether Google's use of Java was acceptable as copying is allowed under certain circumstances. On May 9th, 2016, there is to be a new trial in the federal district court. The damage money asked by Oracle increased by 10 times because of the increase of smartphones and Android since 2012. This new trial will include the six new versions of Android. The first trial concluded with the verdict that Google had violated Oracle's copyright by copying the "structure, sequence, and organization" of 37 Java application programming interfaces onto Android. The trial judge later stated that APIs are not protected under the U.S copyright law. This trial will initiate again on May 9th, 2016. The moral dilemma with this trial is that the APIs were copied, which are not included under copyright protection, but they were created by Oracle. The API format was copied by Google exactly from that of Oracle, and that is unfair to Oracle because it was made by them. Google contradicted the allegations of Oracle by stating that "Java is covered by fair use, which allows copying in limited cases." There is other factors that are included in this, such as the fact that the usage of the APIs was used to construct something new, rather than the same exact applications as Oracle.
http://www.computerworld.com/article/3048774/android/oracle-wants-93b-for-googles-use-of-java-in-android.html
If the APIs where not in the public domain then Google should pay for their use regardless of what the court ruled. Society has a serious moral problem with people and companies thinking that they should get digital property for free such as movies, music and software. There are situation such as Microsoft that over charges for their software and provides poor support. In my dealings with Microsoft I find them to be arrogant with the attitude that they could do whatever they want because they are a software giant that has a monopoly.
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