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Rules that Android makes fair use of Java APIs.

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T he long-running legal fight between Google and Oracle over the use of Java APIs in the Android operating system could finally be drawing to a close, with a federal jury concluding that Android does not infringe on Oracle-owned copyrights. After three days of deliberation, the jury decided that Google’s re-implementation of 37 Java APIs was protected by fair use.

In a statement made after its victory, a Google spokesperson commented that: “Today’s verdict that Android makes fair use of Java APIs represents a win for the Android ecosystem, for the Java programming community, and for software developers who rely on open and free programming languages to build innovative consumer products.”

Oracle, which acquired the Java programming language with its purchase of Sun Microsystems, sued Google over the APIs back in 2010, and in the early proceedings it had asked for $9 billion in compensation. Oracle attorney, Peter Bicks, claimed in his closing arguments that “They copied 11,500 lines of code … it’s undisputed. They took the code, they copied it, and put it right into Android.”

Oracle hasn’t yet commented on the results of the court case, but it’s widely expected that the software giant will appeal the decision. So, while we’re happy to see this on-going argument reaching the end of the road, there may still be a few twists and turns before it’s completely over.