Oracle is not taking its multiple courtroom losses against Google well. The company has confirmed that it is currently backing a group called Campaign for Accountability. The CfA is a non-profit organisation that promotes the usual social justice causes; although it mysteriously also includes a permanent campaign to remind people of the damage that Google does as well.
The revelation of Oracle’s funding was unusual for the CfA; which has generally kept its contributors secret. This secrecy has also made observers wary of the group; considering that it happens to be promoting transparency without actually being transparent with its own backers.
Oracle, on the other hand, is being up front with its involvement in the CfA. The company is clearly still unhappy with the outcome of two civil suits against Google that have failed. Oracle sued Google for allegedly using proprietary Java code when designing the Android operating system; and asked for some $9 billion (about RM36 billion) in damages. The US legal system ruled that the use of the code constituted fair use; and that Google did nothing wrong.
The issue with funding a non-profit to campaign against Google happens to be that Oracle is also taking Mountain View back to court. The company is determined to get the outcome that it wants; and looks to be ready to drag everyone back to court as many times as needed.
Critics are concerned that Oracle could be using its influence with the CfA to wage an astro-turfing campaign as well. Of course, the CfA claims to be 100-percent transparent about its activities; just don’t ask about where it gets its funding.
[Source: Fortune]
