It's On: Oracle and Google To Meet in "World Series" of IP Lawsuits

On Monday, what's being described as the "world series of intellectual property trials," will get underway with jury selection in a federal court in San Francisco. The parties are the software giant Oracle, and the Internet concern Google. The issue is Java, the software platform of which Oracle became the owner, when Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems in 2010. And the witness list will be interesting: Both Google CEO Larry Page, and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison are expected to take the witness stand during the trial, as will former Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz, and Andy Rubin, the Google Senior Vice President who runs its Android and mobile operations. The allegations are fairly simple, but the case could have some significant impact if Oracle prevails in some of its arguments. Oracle sued Google in the summer of 2010, alleging that the Android mobile operating system violated seven different Java patents. Five of those patents have since been tossed out since they were re-examined, leaving two. That reduces the potential amount of damages that Oracle might be entitled to should it prevail. Google even went so far as to offer to cut Oracle in on Android and $2.8 million in a damages in the event it prevails. Oracle declined. Google Brief Oracle Brief

Clic.