Google (GOOG) & Oracle (ORCL) - Judge Seeks Names of Paid Reporters, Bloggers

Another patents dispute and another battle. This time it’s between internet search giant Google Inc(NASDAQ:GOOG) and Software Company Oracle Corporation(NASDAQ:ORCL)

On Tuesday, the presiding U.S. District Judge William Alsup asked the two companies to reveal the names of journalists, bloggers and other such commentators who are on their payrolls.

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Asking for the information, Alsup said that he was worried that such journalists and bloggers may been retained by the companies or their counsels to write comments about the case.

Oracle sued Google in a federal court, claiming the search engine giant's Android mobile operating software violated its patents and copyright to its Java platform, and sought about $1 billion on its copyright claims.

The jury however ruled in Google's favour with the judge at that time deciding that Oracle could not claim copyright protection on most of the Java material that Oracle took to trial.

Oracle is expected to appeal against the order.

The companies have until August 17 to comply with the information sought by Alsup.

Alsup's order reads - "The court is concerned that the parties and/or counsel herein may have retained or paid print or internet authors, journalists, commentators or bloggers who have and/or may publish comments on the issues in the case."

Like the Apple vs. Samsung patents trial, this also attracted a lot of media coverage with testimonies from high-profile executives such as Google CEO Larry Page and Oracle boss Larry Ellison.

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An Oracle spokeswoman said in a statement that the company has "always disclosed all of its financial relationships in this matter, and it is time for Google do to the same. We read this order to also include indirect payments to entities who, in turn, made comments on behalf of Google."

Google said the company would comply with the order.