U.S. Jury Hands Google Mixed Verdict on Oracle - NYTimes.com

Google may not have to write a check to Oracle for $xB in this case, but it still appears to be a pivotal milestone

"The jury Monday found that Google did improperly use an aspect of Java, nine lines of software code called rangeCheck, when it designed Android. Google, with its vast cash reserves, could absorb any licensing fees it might be forced to pay to continue using Java, which is typically distributed free to programmers and for a fee to companies, as long as they agree to abide by certain rules.
But the decision raises questions about how carefully Google treats intellectual property rights, and could raise doubts among phone makers, who might well wonder what other legal claims might be lurking — from Apple, Microsoft or Nokia, for example."

U.S. Jury Hands Google Mixed Verdict on Oracle - NYTimes.com