Protection of the Rights of Subjects of Scientific and Technological Activity: Oracle v. Google

Abstract

The focus of this paper is one of the key cases in the field of protection of the results of intellectual activity considered by foreign courts in recent years — the «Oracle v. Google» case. The authors analyze the background of the case, focus on the main conclusions made by the American court in the course of the dispute. Particular attention is given to the protection of copyright in relation to the lines of code, as well as aspects of patent protection. The authors assess the conclusions of «American Themis» and forecast the impact of this decision on the protection of the rights of subjects of scientific and technological activity. In the context of Oracle v. Google the authors compare the practice of the Court of Justice of the EU as a judicial institution of the European Union. In particular, following the case of SAS Institute Inc. v World Programming Ltd, which is under consideration in the Court of the EU, the authors compare the American and European approaches to the problem of protection of the program code by legal means. In conclusion, the authors attempt to identify the possible risks for the subjects of scientific and technological activities (primarily for software developers) inherent in the decision in the case of Oracle v Google.