Google CEO Larry Page took the stand in US federal court today to answer questions from über-lawyer David Boies — he of US DOJ v Microsoft, Bush v Gore and a bajillion other high profile cases — in a case that pits Oracle against Google. So how did it go?
Er. Well, I hope Larry has already been able to pop open a cold one. As the Washington Post reports: “The taciturn Page often looked uncomfortable on the witness stand as he sparred with David Boies,” and “Page rarely looked at Boies and frequently said he couldn’t remember seeing some of the internal Google documents that Oracle is using to build its case.”
On the plus side, he came out swinging, arguing that Google “did nothing wrong,” says Bloomberg. Then again, stammering that he’s “not sure” he would say Android is a critical Google asset fills out Page’s minus column nicely.
The case revolves around whether or not Google improperly used Oracle’s Java technology (which belonged to Sun Microsystems at the time) to develop Android. Oracle has already introduced numerous internal emails that make the case that Google should have licensed Java, including one from Andy Rubin that flat-out stated “my proposal is that we take a licence”.
Oracle CEO Larry Ellison had his day in court yesterday, and today it was Page’s turn to get grilled by Boies. The trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks (!!!) so don’t put too much weight behind one bad day. There’s a lot to come, and Google is sure to mount a Game of Thrones-worthy defence. [Bloomberg, Washington Post]