Category: Open Source

Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc.: The Dissent That Matters (Part 2)

Posted on by Tech Law Forum NALSAR

[This post has ben authored by Ajeeth Srinivas, a 4th year student at School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore.]

The first Part of this Article analysed the judgement in the case of Google v Oracle, in suppoet of the minority opinion. The first part analysed the implications of the judgement on the idea-expression dichotomy and Google’s contentions regarding the merger doctrine, by understanding the structure of Oracle’s JAVA software, and noting the relationship between the declaring code and the implementing codes. This part analyses the second aspect of the majority judgement, and supports the views of the dissenting judges on the issue of Fair Use. 

Read more

Google and Antitrust: A Series of Unfortunate Events

Posted on by Veera Mahuli

(Image Source: https://flic.kr/p/92t8FA)

In its long series of antitrust woes, Google found itself facing an antitrust complaint filed by two Korean internet search sites a few years ago, accusing it of blocking third party search applications from the Android operating system, though it was later acquitted of the same. It was this complaint that later led to the European Union complaint. Preceding this, the internet giant was the subject of a complaint regarding Android filed with the European Commission by a Portuguese app store, Aptoide. Aptoide claimed abuse of its dominant position in the smartphone market by Google, accusing it of blocking third party app stores that rival its own app store (Google Play) in the Android operating setup. Thus, by creating obstacles for users to install any other app store but Play on the Android platform, Google ensures that there is no direct competition to it. Aptoide’s complaint also stated that the bundle services that are essential for the functioning of the Android system are tied up with Google Play and Google blocks access to Aptoide websites in its web browser Chrome

Read more