Oracle looks for Page pyrotechnics in Google Android lawsuit

Oracle wants to hear from Google CEO Larry Page in its lawsuit against the search giant over Android.

In a letter Thursday to U.S. District Judge Donna Ryu, Oracle said it wanted to take four more depositions before the discovery phase ends July 29. First up is Page.

Oracle said:

(Page) reportedly made the decision to acquire Android, Inc., and thereby develop and launch the platform that Oracle now contends infringes its patents and copyrights. Mr. Page also participated in negotiations that took place between Sun and Google regarding a Java license for Android and in subsequent communications with Oracle’s CEO, Larry Ellison (whose deposition Google has requested). Oracle believes that Mr. Page’s testimony will likely be relevant with respect to a number of other key issues in this case as well, including the value of the infringement to Google.

As trial watcher Florian Mueller noted, there's nothing quite like a high profile CEO appearance at a trial. Meanwhile, Oracle has a history of making a big deal of CEO testimony even if there isn't any. Oracle chased HP CEO Leo Apotheker around in its lawsuit against SAP over TomorrowNow.

Google also plans to take the deposition of former Google employees Dipchand Nishar and Bob Lee. Both were involved with Android at its launch. Oracle also wants a deposition from Tim Lindholm, an Android software engineer and former Sun employee who was involved in talks between Google and Sun over a Java license.

Google hasn't agreed with Oracle's need to depose Page.

Related: Google pans Oracle damages argument: Java was fragmented well before Android