Updates on Cases

There’ve been some developments in cases we’ve previously reported on.  Here’s an update on the latest.

Battle of the Giants: Oracle v Google

The multibillion dollar copyright retrial case between Google and Oracle was back in court on Monday, to be heard before a jury.

The case focusses on the Google Android OS, with Oracle claiming Google unlawfully used Java, and that it now owes it a share of the profits derived from Android – some $8.8 billion.

In the meantime, Judge Alsop has advised the jury members to alter the privacy settings of their social media accounts in an effort to prevent technology and business reporters pursuing them, warning them that he “can’t control the press”.

Highly illogical? Star Trek vs its Trekkies

Also on Monday, Los Angeles-based US District Court judge rejected a notion to dismiss by  Axanar Productions, a crowd-funded Star Trek fanfiction production company, facing a copyright infringement lawsuit from CBS and Paramount.

The studios, owning the rights to the Star Trek TV and film franchise claims that Axanar’s production of a Stark Trek fanfic contains infringing elements of the original copyright work.  Azanar had argued that the copyright infringement claims were too vague in its motion to dismiss, but the judge disagreed, stating “Courts do not require copyright claims to be pled with such particularity…Although the Court declines to address whether Plaintiffs’ Claims will prosper at this time…the Court does find Plaintiffs’ claims will live long enough to survive Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss.”

In a blog post, leader of Axanar Productions Alec Peters was still optimistic of the chancesof successfully defeating the claims, writing, “I am happy to say our trial got moved up to January 31, 2017… That means, we could win this case and have Axanar back in production in March, 2017. Yes, we will finish Axanar!”

We will keep you posted.