Oracle and Google: Interesting Enemies
August 16, 2010
“How Oracle Might Kill Google’s Android and Software Patents All at Once” is an interesting write up. You should read it and make your own decision about its premise. For me, I was struck by the notion that Android itself could be jeopardized. Here’s the passage that got my wheels turning:
That fact not only highlights that Oracle is just as “open source friendly” as Google, but that it’s also more responsible in developing open source software in such a way that it doesn’t recklessly expose itself to being sued the way Sun did, or the way Google did.
I am not sure I see Oracle as quite the champion of open source that Roughly Drafted suggests. The article continued:
Once the iPhone and other platforms reach Verizon over the next six months, Android’s sales will scale back down domestically, and all the platform will have to recommend itself is a lot of adware, malware, copyright violations and fraudware pushed underhanded developers looking to bilk an audience in a market with no curator. On top of all this, it will also have a top software maker seeking to eviscerate its core development platform, necessitating a significant reworking of what Android even is. Who wants to invest in development for that? Especially if all your work is just going to be pirated by all the Android freetards.
If this assertion is accurate, Google will have to scramble to find another potential money stream. My hunch is that Google may have difficulty monetizing at the scale of AdWords. After 11 years, Google still sells text ads and variations thereof for the lion’s share of its revenues. What happens if the AdWords’ money-machine throws a gear? I recall hearing or reading that Google’s management expects to make money – lots of money – from Android. No Android. Bummer. No Android and declining AdWords revenue. Will the Math Club may be working at Burger King?
The write up also includes a patent “hook”. No matter how lousy the patent system is, I think that change will be slow and litigation will be only marginally faster. Nevertheless, the write up presents an interesting argument. I suppose Oracle folks will no longer be encouraged to sell Google Search Appliances or use Google Apps to address certain issues with Oracle’s own “glue” code like Fusion.
Stephen E Arnold, August 16, 2010
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