The decade-long legal battle between two of the world’s largest tech companies has finally come to an end. As a result, the open-source software community has won.

When the Oracle vs. Google proceedings needed to be reviewed, Oracle sued Google in 2010 for copyright infringement of Google’s use of Oracle’s Java API on its Android smartphone operating system. The district court ruled in favour of Google, but the decision was later revoked in an appeal. The case eventually landed in the United States Supreme Court and 6 or 2 people in favour of Google in April of this year.

Meaning of copyrighted API

Oracle vs. Google relied on the question of whether the API was copyrighted and whether fair use was applicable under the law. The Supreme Court withheld a ruling on the widest legal issue at stake in the case, If the API is even subject to copyright protection.

For the past decade, judges and lawyers have compared the Java API to car accelerator pedals and QWERTY keyboard layouts, the universal interfaces that underlie complex systems. Much of the software you’re using today is built on a reimplemented API, like the Java API in question in this case. Oracle’s victory would have shocked the entire tech industry and changed the fundamental aspects of software development that programmers have relied on for decades. End users will also experience the impact of increased costs and reduced interoperability between applications.

Most in the tech industry see Google’s victory as software development and innovation victory. The Supreme Court ruling reaffirmed the importance of fair use in copyright law and upheld software developers’ long-standing use of open source software as a component of new creative technologies.

Software development after Oracle vs. Google

The Oracle vs. Google ruling does not necessarily change the way the software world operates, but it does help maintain the status quo of the technology industry. Now that the historic court battle is over, let’s find out what Google’s victory means for the software community.

• Mutual compatibility supports software innovation. Oracle’s victory would have made it possible to charge license fees for APIs developed by companies like Oracle. This puts pressure on cost-conscious companies, from small start-ups to large ones, to develop their own unique APIs rather than paying license fees. While this saves money, migrating from a single universal standard makes it difficult for software applications from different companies to work together.
  Keeping the API open allows developers to avoid wasting time modifying their code to match a separate set of APIs for each application. Instead, they can focus on experimenting and innovating within an incompatible software ecosystem built on universal standards. Developer skills can continue to be transferred, as developers do not have to learn a new set of APIs each time they switch companies. As you deepen your expertise over time, you are more likely to open up new areas of innovation.
• SMEs will have a more equal playing field. Making APIs copyrightable will already intensify fierce competition among tech giants. Companies may have been able to block competitors from using critical APIs by refusing to sign license agreements. Many in the industry are also afraid that Oracle’s win will lead to API gatekeeping, which is a huge disadvantage for small start-ups and independent developers who don’t have the budget to pay.
  Fair use of the API gives all businesses, regardless of size, access to the same software building blocks that help drive healthy competition. For example, if Company A does not provide a good service behind the API, Company B can use the same API to create a better service that is compatible with existing software. This dynamics hunts down legacy companies and encourages young start-ups to develop new products. Therefore, Google’s victory will continue to drive innovation in the technology industry.

The battle continues

Google’s victory was a victory for the open-source community, but the war isn’t over yet. Organizations need to continue to fight for open and collaborative standards in the software community.

Allowing developers free access to key components of software such as the Java API facilitates equal opportunity and increased transparency throughout the technology industry. It also allows developers to come together to resolve bugs and enhance public code, creating a more reliable technology ecosystem. Open-source software enables you to increase efficiency, avoid vendor lock-in, reduce time to market, and reduce costs. On the developer side, the collaboration that accompanies being part of an open-source project can generate new ideas and inspire ingenuity.

Thanks to open-source software, you can take advantage of the latest technologies that drive digital transformation and enable advances such as remote work. Open-source software can continue to strengthen the technology ecosystem in the aftermath of Oracle vs. Google, as long as developers and businesses compete fairly. When using open-source code, remember to modify and build it. This benefits not only you but the entire community.