http://qs321.pair.com?node_id=968562


in reply to Re^4: Copyright on languages
in thread Copyright on languages

Besides which, the case does not revolve around "the API", but rather about "bits of the API". Ie. A certain, defined, specific, named, subset of, the entrypoints within "The API".

Yes, it's not about every API in the Java's core libraries, but no, it's not about a subset of entry points either. From what I've read (and I've been reading transcripts from court), it is about the *full* API of the 37 packages shown below. (A Java package is akin to a Perl package/module.) Could you point me to this subset of entry points?

The 37 packages are listed in Trial Exhibit 1072 (TX1072). I can't find the exhibit except as a part of a slide show that obscures half the list.

  1. java.awt.font
  2. java.beans
  3. java.io
  4. java.lang
  5. java.lang.annotation
  6. java.lang.ref
  7. java.lang.reflect
  8. java.net
  9. java.nio
  10. java.nio.channels
  11. java.nio.channels.spi
  12. java.nio.charset
  13. java.nio.charset.spi
  14. java.security
  15. java.security.acl
  16. java.security.cert
  17. java.security.interafaces
  18. java.security.spec
  19. java.sql
  20. java.text[...obscured...]
  21. java.util
  22. java.util.[...obscured...]
  23. java.util.[...obscured...]
  24. java.util.[...obscured...]
  25. java.util.[...obscured...]
  26. java.util.[...obscured...]
  27. javax.cry[...obscured...]
  28. javax.cry[...obscured...]
  29. javax.cry[...obscured...]
  30. javax.net[...obscured...]
  31. javax.net[...obscured...]
  32. javax.sec[...obscured...]
  33. javax.sec[...obscured...]
  34. javax.sec[...obscured...]
  35. javax.sec[...obscured...]
  36. javax.sec[...obscured...]
  37. javax.sql[...obscured...]

Update: Added list of packages and the paragraph introducing them.

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Re^6: Copyright on languages
by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on May 02, 2012 at 22:20 UTC
    Could you point me to this subset of entry points?

    I know no more than you. I've been following along on potted summaries of the case, much less than the transcripts.

    But given the (debatable) nature of what constitutes "the Java API", whether you divide it up according to AWT .v. Swing .v. other; or server-side .v. client-side; or Java v1 .v. v2 (v3,v4,v5); etc., those 37 packages constitute a subset of 166 packages that (currently) make up the 'the full Java API (set)'.

    There are also 3 specific functions that are cited:

    1. The rangeCheck method in TimSort.java and ComparableTimSort.Java
    2. Source code in seven “Impl.java” files and the one “ACL” file
    3. The English-language comments in CodeSourceTest.java and CollectionCertStoreParametersTest.java

    With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
    Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
    "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
    In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

    The start of some sanity?

      1. Those are the "9 lines of code" I mentioned earlier.

      Not all of the Java libraries were written by Sun or Oracle. There are a lot of 3rd party contributions. timsort was a 3rd party contribution. One of timsort's developers copied an internal Java function as an interim solution until he could link to that function directly. This function is a simple array bound check function a 1st year CS student could write call rangeCheck.

      That 3rd party contributor was Google. When it came to implementing timsort for the Android, Google took their contribution and accidentally failed to replace rangeCheck. A minor mistake (Copyright violation) of no consequence (outside of this trial).

      2 & 3. Oracle admitted these files probably never made it to a phone. They were in a directory called "test". On their cross of Oracle's witness, Google made it sound like they were part of a developer's sandbox.

      Google: Do you know if these files are part of a handset?

      Dr. Mitchell: I don't recall that, no.

      Google: The other files of the 12. These files all have the word "test" in them?

      Dr. Mitchell: No.....

      Google: para 22. Are the 8 impl files on the left... The Android name has the name "test" in it.

      Dr. Mitchell: The path has "test".

      Google: All 8 have the word "test"?

      Dr. Mitchell: Yes, I think that's true.

      Google: You don't actually know if any of these files were compiled and placed on a handset?

      Dr. Mitchell: (a bit shaky) I don't have a reason to believe they were put on a handset.

      Google: So the only thing you're aware of that you're sure made it onto a phone were these 9 lines of code in rangecheck?

      Dr. Mitchell: [pauses] I believe that's correct.

      (May not be word-for-word accurate.)

        . timsort was a 3rd party contribution. One of timsort's developers copied an internal Java function as an interim solution until he could link to that function directly. This function is a simple array bound check function a 1st year CS student could write call rangeCheck.

        That 3rd party contributor was Google. When it came to implementing timsort for the Android, Google took their contribution and accidentally failed to replace rangeCheck

        I read an article that commented on that particular part of the suit, though I can't find it now. The (possibly erroneous) conclusion drawn went:

        Oracle are suing Google for reusing a trivial piece of code that they freely contributed to Java.

        The reasoning behind Oracle's suit seems pretty Open .. and Shut:Oracle and Java: Mobile dev FAIL dooms Ellison's future


        With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
        Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
        "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
        In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

        The start of some sanity?