Google hits back at 'baseless' Oracle claims

The Android lawsuit has angered many in the open source community

Google has hit back at Oracle over what it calls a "baseless" lawsuit accusing the firm of infringing some Java patents in its Android operating system.

Oracle, which gained ownership of Java after acquiring Sun Microsystems last year, filed the papers at the end of last week.

The documents state that Google "knowingly, directly and repeatedly infringed Oracle's Java-related intellectual property" when developing Android, and that the lawsuit "seeks appropriate remedies".

However, a Google spokesperson said that the company will "strongly defend open source standards, and will continue to work with the industry to develop the Android platform".

"We are disappointed Oracle has chosen to attack both Google and the open source Java community with this baseless lawsuit," the firm added.

"The open source Java community goes beyond any one corporation, and works every day to make the web a better place."

The case could mark a key stage in the development of Android, according to Florian Mueller, founder of the NoSoftwarePatents campaign.

Mueller explained that, should Google choose to settle with Oracle on the issue, it would limit opportunities for other developers working with open source technology.