By Makenzie Holland
API copyright vs. intellectual property rights
Advocates for Google’s side saw peril in an Oracle victory, arguing that it could set a precedent that would stifle innovation in application development.
Others, like Jason Bloomberg, president of IT advisory and analysis firm Intellyx, said the decision gives APIs the legal authority to be used as intended
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APIs, he said, aren’t on the same level as proprietary software. APIs are code that enable software programs to talk to each other, not perform operational functions.
“Being able to share those, access those, without worrying about copyright restrictions goes to the heart of what an API is all about,” Bloomberg said. “But if the court had found the other way, it could have very well shut down the entire API economy, which would’ve had a major adverse impact on business.”
