Woot! Google owned Oracle in a lawsuit filed against android in August 2010. Oracle claimed that Android is violating a number of their patents and copyrights for the Java language. However, Google has been coming out on top since then but Oracle is planning to appeal. The lawsuit has been going on under the superintendence of Judge William Alsup, who recently ordered both companies to disclose information about Online authors, bloggers, commentors that have been paid by either of the company for a “Favor”. (By Favor I mean a “totally Biased write-up”) (No, Google doesn’t pay us, we just love Android and hate Apple but they can send us some cash if they want!)
Judge Alsup said in an order filed on Tuesday that,
The Court is concerned that the parties and/or counsel herein may have retained or paid print or internet authors, journalists, commentators or bloggers who have and/or may publish comments on the issues in this case,
He also added,
“Although proceedings in this matter are almost over, they are not fully over yet and, in any event, the disclosure required by this order would be of use on appeal or on any remand to make clear whether any treatise, article, commentary or analysis on the issues posed by this case are possibly influenced by financial relationships.”
Both companies have been given the deadline of August 17th to submit any information about bloggers, commenters, authors, whom may have received some “extra cash” by either of the company to make some biased statements regarding this case. One blogger that has openly accepted relations with Oracle is the Author of FOSS Patents, Florian Mueller. Mueller admitted that he has formed a consultation relationship with Oracle. (Yes! He uses Blogger, Ironic isn’t it?)
Neither of the company has spoken out about the given order. Would it be possible for the company to disclose the information about their Paid-Influencers? Will there be any penalties involved for the paid bloggers? We have no idea yet but we’ll soon find out on 17th August. Stay in touch with us and let us know how you feel about this order by commenting below.