Low tech talk in Google, Oracle high tech copyright clash

WASHINGTON — The topic was high tech: the code behind smartphones. But on Wednesday the Supreme Court looked to more low tech examples, from the typewriter keyboard to restaurant menus, try to resolve an $8 billion-plus copyright dispute between tech giants Google and Oracle. “Cracking the safe may be the only way to get the money that you want, but that doesn’t mean you can do it,” Roberts said, suggesting Google could have licensed what it wanted to use. Google won the first round when a trial court rejected Oracle’s copyright claim, but that ruling was overturned on appeal. Why is that principle not at play here?” Justice Samuel Alito said he was concerned that under Google’s argument “all computer code is at risk of losing protection.” Microsoft, IBM and major internet and tech industry lobbying groups have weighed in, in favor of Google.