oracle vs google intellectual property dispute (welcome d&d!)

The Something Awful Forums > Main > BYOB: BYOB BYOB BOYB BBOY YOBB YBOB BBYO?? > oracle vs google intellectual property dispute (welcome d&d!)

alnilam

this thread is for some guests of ours from D&D to argue about an intellectual property (IP) dispute between oracle (java) and google, about whether APIs can be considered protected IP, or something idk

hopefully they'll be here soon

# ¿ May 30, 2016 17:26

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ¿ May 21, 2024 16:15

alnilam

any minute now
i'll get the snacks ready and the nice napkins out

_{ty manifisto}

# ¿ May 30, 2016 17:26

alnilam

i linked them in the thread they were derailing which is the supreme court thiread a very interesting and informative thread that i recommend people read sometimes if they feel like it i guess

i hope they come :pray:

_{ty manifisto}

# ¿ May 30, 2016 17:33

alnilam

from what i understand oracle wrote headers for some common open-source code and google copied the headers exactly and now oracle says "hey you can't copy that directly!" and google said "but the code was open source :smug:

" but apparently there's some disagreement among our guests-to-be about what exactly can count as protected IP and what can't

_{ty manifisto}

# ¿ May 30, 2016 17:35

alnilam

Piso Mojado posted:

okay ill start it off.

I don't see how anyone who has any experience with computer programming can argue that re-implementing free to use api's the way google did to develop android is anything but fair use. To me, the whole trial seems pretty cut and dry and considering Oracle is in deep long-term trouble financially due to their core products losing significant market share, they are just changing their business model to a litigation based model instead of trying to compete in the new open source landscape.

This whole debacle just further points out that:
1) we need significant software patent reform because it is a grey landscape and easily exploitable by lawyers (and developers).
2) we desperately need to update the test for what is "fair use".

I invite any d&d person to argue against any of these points because I am genuinely interested in hearing counter-arguments because I acknowledge my own bias and would like to understand the topic more.

smootches,
Piso (byob d&d liason)

Finally someone says what we're all thinking

_{ty manifisto}

# ¿ May 30, 2016 18:55

alnilam

I agree though and I think IP law has a lot of issues given how specialized most fields have become

_{ty manifisto}

# ¿ May 30, 2016 18:59

alnilam

then again I too have my own bias which tends to favor the side of open source software, free use, open access science, etc. because i think that society as a whole can benefit a lot and more quickly if people are freely able to use what others have done, but that's getting a little bit beyond the issues of this one specific case

_{ty manifisto}

# ¿ May 30, 2016 19:02

alnilam

Rollofthedice posted:

hi, d&d poster here.

i'm going to say oracle's in the right because they have a slightly cooler name than google.

that's a fair point, but on the other hand google's name sounds like the name of a really really big number, and usually big numbers win out over smaller ones IME

_{ty manifisto}

# ¿ May 30, 2016 19:05

alnilam

mandatory lesbian posted:

Welcome

# ¿ May 30, 2016 19:14

alnilam

Piso Mojado posted:

[typing into my Ask toolbar] "Oracle. Ruling."

0 results found
Did you mean Oracle rules!

# ¿ May 30, 2016 22:03

alnilam

RuanGacho posted:

I like Fluffie's av.

Please someone post the Duckie Classic(tm)

# ¿ May 31, 2016 00:13

alnilam

^^notice how i brought the concept of intellectual property into it with the trademark sign

# ¿ May 31, 2016 00:14

alnilam

oh good

# ¿ May 31, 2016 01:43

alnilam

So far ITT it seems that at least in this matter oracle is a big dummy head and google is extremely cool and good... well I guess it's officially settled
*sets up home-alone style traps for the people rushing in to disagree*

_{ty manifisto}

# ¿ May 31, 2016 17:06

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ¿ May 21, 2024 16:15

alnilam

Rodatose posted:

# ¿ Jun 7, 2016 07:17

The Something Awful Forums > Main > BYOB: BYOB BYOB BOYB BBOY YOBB YBOB BBYO?? > oracle vs google intellectual property dispute (welcome d&d!)