Google accused of copying Oracle Java code

An open source advocate has accused Google of copying up to 43 Android files directly from Oracle's Java source code.

It’s unclear whether the files were actually included with the shipping version of Android, but they were open-sourced by Google under Apache-license, and that alone could be legally problematic for the company.

"[The alleged copied code] is really about the Android's team's credibility, its approach to intellectual property issues," Florian Mueller, who spotted the files in question, told The Register. "This looks arrogant, reckless, aggressive. What does it imply about the team's overall approach?"

Google did not respond to a request for comment.

Using open source is virtually a business requirement today, but even well run, open source savvy companies like Google have difficulty managing open source licensing.

Does your company have a policy for monitoring source code?

Can you tell which open source software is in use and whether you are compliant with any license restrictions?

Black Duck Software are the market leaders in the management and monitoring of open source software use. Black Duck’s Protex solution provides businesses with a preventative measure when using external code.

As official Black Duck partners, Clearvision can provide consulting for all Black Duck products and services.

For a limited time Clearvision and BlackDuck are offering all prospective customers a FREE sample code scan, which will highlight the open source software already in use and any potential breach of license terms. For more details or to learn more about how your company can benefit please contact us.