Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc.
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc. and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc..
The Supreme Court ruled that Google's use of the Java API was a fair use under copyright law. The Court considered the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount and substantiality of the portion used, and the effect on the market. The decision reversed the lower court's ruling and emphasized the transformative nature of Google's use.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc..
The Court held that Google's copying of the Java API constituted a fair use of that material as a matter of law.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc.. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Judicial Review is relevant to Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc.
The Court exercised its power of judicial review to determine whether Google's use of the Java API constituted fair use under copyright law.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The 'fair use' question is a mixed question of fact and law. Reviewing courts should appropriately defer to the jury's findings of underlying facts, but the ultimate question whether those facts amount to a fair use is a legal question for judges to decide de novo.
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Why Right to Jury Trial is relevant to Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc.
The Court addressed the role of the jury in determining facts related to fair use, distinguishing between factual findings and legal conclusions.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)This approach does not violate the Seventh Amendment's prohibition on courts reexamining facts tried by a jury, because the ultimate question here is one of law, not fact.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc. that support the summary and concepts above.
Google's limited copying of the Java API is a transformative use.
The 'right of trial by jury' does not include the right to have a jury resolve a fair use defense.
The fact that computer programs are primarily functional makes it difficult to apply traditional copyright concepts.
