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Oracle wants $1.16 billion in damages from Google

Oracle has had trouble pinpointing an estimate of damages it claims to have incurred on Google's part.
Written by Rachel King, Contributor

As settlement talks between Oracle and Google and their respective CEOs, Larry Ellison and Larry Page, proceeded to go nowhere, another key factor in Oracle's case might finally be in place.

In July, both Oracle and Google were soundly scolded for different reasons before U.S. District Judge William Alsup. At the time, Oracle was asking for at least $6.1 billion in damages due to patent infringement claims related to the misuse of Java (which Oracle now owns after acquiring Sun Microsystems) on Android.

Additionally, Oracle wasn't able to present which patents were actually violated, leaving their lawyers red-faced when the judge sternly turned them down and instructed them to do their homework.

Oracle has completed at least one assignment as it is asking now for $1.16 billion in damages. Reuters has the breakdown:

In a letter to Alsup, Oracle lawyer Steven Holtzman said the revised damages statement includes as much as $202 million for patent infringement, and as much as $960 million for copyright infringement.

That figure could be considered more reasonable, depending on how Oracle presents its case, which is expected to go to trial on Halloween. The prospect of a trial is looking ever more likely these days as settlement discussions over the last week and even last few months have proven to be futile.

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