Google-Oracle jury reaches impasse on key issue - BusinessWeek

SAN FRANCISCO

A federal jury in San Francisco has reached an impasse on a key issue in Oracle's copyright-infringement case against Google, handing the database-software company a major setback.

Oracle sought millions of dollars in damages after claiming that Google Inc. built its popular Android mobile software by stealing some of the technology from Java, a programming platform that Oracle Corp. bought two years ago.

The jury found that Google infringed on the largest of Oracle's claims, but it couldn't agree on whether Google's use was legally protected "fair use." Without that determination, it will be difficult for Oracle to win major damages.

Google is moving for a mistrial. Google prevailed on two other claims.

Google has argued that it only used parts of Java that have always been freely available.