X

Oracle, Google chiefs on witness stand (images)

Eric Schmidt, Larry Page, Larry Ellison, and other luminaries make appearances in a San Francisco courtroom. At issue: does Google's Android OS infringe on Java patents?

Jon Skillings
Jon Skillings is an editorial director at CNET, where he's worked since 2000. A born browser of dictionaries, he honed his language skills as a US Army linguist (Polish and German) before diving into editing for tech publications -- including at PC Week and the IDG News Service -- back when the web was just getting under way, and even a little before. For CNET, he's written on topics from GPS, AI and 5G to James Bond, aircraft, astronauts, brass instruments and music streaming services.
Jon Skillings
Redux_Eric_Schmidt_courtroom_sketch_01.jpg
1 of 13 Vicki Behringer

Eric Schmidt testifies

Oracle and Google have squared off in a San Francisco courtroom in a case examining the relationship between Google's Android operating system and the Java programming language, created by Sun Microsystems but now owned by Oracle. Specifically, the case -- brought by Oracle -- seeks to determine whether Android infringes on patents and copyrights associated with Java.

This courtroom sketch shows Eric Schmidt, Google's executive chairman (right), being questioned by Oracle lawyer David Boies on Tuesday, April 24. At left is Judge William Alsup.

Editors' note: This slideshow was first published April 17 at 1:01 p.m. PT. It has since been updated with new photos and sketches.

Redux_Eric_Schmidt_courtroom_sketch_02.jpg
2 of 13 Vicki Behringer

Questioning Schmidt

In this sketch, also from April 24, Schmidt responds to questions from Google attorney Robert van Nest.
Eric_Schmidt_02.jpg
3 of 13 Josh Miller/CNET

Leaving the courthouse

Schmidt leaves the San Francisco courthouse on April 24. Boies had focused his questioning of Schmidt on Google's apparent ongoing concern, expressed in e-mails and documents, about whether the company needed to get a license from Sun, despite its alleged "clean room" implementation. Van Nest, meanwhile, focused on Schmidt's interaction with his old friends at Sun, who Schmidt testified didn't express any concerns about or disapproval of Android, or that Google needed a license to use Java APIs in Android.
Eric_Schmidt_01.jpg
4 of 13 Josh Miller/CNET

Done for the day

Another shot of Schmidt, left, departing the courthouse on April 24 with Google attorney Robert Van Nest.
Google_v_Oracle_sketch_of_Andy_Rubin.JPG
5 of 13 Vicki Behringer

Andy Rubin on the stand

Here, Boies questions Google's Android chief, Andy Rubin (at left). The attorney pointed to concerns expressed by Rubin in e-mails about "fragmentation," or creating incompatibility with the Java specification. After probing by Judge Alsup regarding what he thought fragmentation meant, Rubin said, "There was some caution on my side in using the word 'fragmentation'...My definition of fragmentation was incompatible implementations of Java."
larry-page-leaves-sf-court-1_1.jpg
6 of 13 CNET TV

Larry Page after testifying

In this photo from Wednesday, April 18, Google CEO Larry Page leaves the courthouse after questioning.
larry-page-leaves-sf-court-4.jpg
7 of 13 CNET TV

Yes-or-no questions

In testimony on April 18, Page was hard-pressed to give direct answers to questions from Oracle attorney David Boies. For instance:

Boies: This is a yes or no question. Mr. Page, do you, from your own personal knowledge and experience in the industry, know that Sun wanted to avoid fragmentation of the Java platform?

Page: I think they wanted to patrol the Java platform.

You can read more from that exchange here.

Oracle_Google_sketch_01.JPG
8 of 13 Sketch by Vicki Behringer

Judge, lawyer, and CEO

This sketch from Tuesday, April 17, shows (from left) Judge William Alsup, attorney Oracle attorney David Boies, and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison.

Oracle_Google_sketch_03.JPG
9 of 13 Sketch by Vicki Behringer

Larry Ellison on cross-examination

Here we see Ellison again, during cross-examination on April 17. He appears twice -- on the witness stand and on the small screen. Asked by Google’s defense attorney, Bob Van Nest, if the Java language is free, Ellison hesitated, resisted, and then huffed, "I don't know."
Oracle_Google_sketch_02.JPG
10 of 13 Sketch by Vicki Behringer

Google CEO Larry Page

Google's Page also made an appearance on April 17 -- but only in a video from his deposition on August 2011. "People would commonly assume Java is a platform," Page said. "I think Android is clearly a platform."
larry-ellison-court-14.jpg
11 of 13 James Martin/CNET

Ellison exits

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison leaves the San Francisco courthouse after his April 17 appearance on the witness stand.
larry-ellison-court-15_1.jpg
12 of 13 James Martin/CNET

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison leaves court

Ellison testified in courtroom 8 of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco that if "people could copy our software and create cheap knockoffs of our products, we wouldn't get paid for our engineering and wouldn't be able to invest what we invest."
larry-ellison-court-16_1.jpg
13 of 13 James Martin/CNET

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison

When asked by Oracle attorney Boies if there are any companies that are using Java but without any of these licenses, Ellison replied, "The only company I know of that hasn't taken any of these licenses is Google."

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos