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I don't think it's fair to call this law suit frivolous. From a developer perspective, the ideal and just end result has always seemed rather obvious. However,
by throwawaykeno 10y ago
I don't think it's fair to call this law suit frivolous.
From a developer perspective, the ideal and just end result has always seemed rather obvious. However, the multi-year history of this case demonstrates the correct legal answer not so obvious, at least from a legal perspective.
For example, settling the issue on fair use was definitely not how most people thought/hoped this would shake out way back in the beginning of the law suit(s).
- AnimalMuppet 10y agoIf I learned one thing from the SCO mess, it's that a high-powered law firm can take absolutely no case and make it last at least a decade.
- sounds 10y agoThis law suit is frivolous based on the assumption that APIs are not copyrightable (a very reasonable assumption in 2009).
- icebraining 10y agoBut the result of the trial was that they are copyrightable, so clearly it wasn't frivolous.
- geofft 10y agoThe appellate court ruled that the law is that APIs are copyrightable, and sent it back. The jury decision here was that Google made fair use of a copyrighted API, not that APIs aren't copyrightable.