oracle

New vulnerabilities found in latest Java update

Only hours after Oracle released its latest Java 7 update to address active exploits, security researchers found yet another vulnerability that can be exploited to run arbitrary code on systems that have the runtime installed.

Oracle's latest release of its Java 7 runtime has come under scrutiny in the past few weeks after it was found being actively exploited in malware attacks that target Windows systems. While so far the vulnerability has only been found being used against Windows, other platforms such as the Mac OS could potentially be targeted through the same exploit.

In response to these findings, … Read more

Oracle patches Java 7 vulnerability

In response to the findings of a recent vulnerability in Java 7 that was being exploited by malware developers, Oracle has released an official patch that takes care of the problem.

In the past week, a new vulnerability was unveiled in Oracle's Java 7 runtime, which has been used by hackers in targeted attacks on Windows-based systems. Similar to the recent Flashback malware in OS X, this vulnerability allows criminals to create a drive-by hack where the only action needed to compromise a system is to visit a rogue Web page that hosts a malicious Java applet.

Even though … Read more

Google: Time to ditch our current software patent system?

ASPEN, Colo. -- Google suggested today that it might be time for the U.S. to ditch software patents.

"One thing that we are very seriously taking a look at is the question of software patents, and whether in fact the patent system as it currently exists is the right system to incent innovation and really promote consumer-friendly policies," said Pablo Chavez, Google's public policy director.

Chavez's remarks at the Technology Policy Institute's conference here this morning come as the Mountain View, Calif. company is enmeshed in a series of legal actions involving software patents, … Read more

Judge: Google didn't comply with disclosure order in Oracle case

A federal judge overseeing the Oracle vs. Google patent lawsuit said that search giant has failed to comply with a request to document all payments to bloggers and writers covering the trial.

Since Google didn't comply with a August 7 order, it has been redirected to do so (applying clarifications) by August 24 at noon PT.

Here's the full text of what U.S. District Judge William Alsup said in his order:

The August 7 order was not limited to authors “paid...to report or comment” or to “quid pro quo” situations. Rather, the order was designed to … Read more

Oracle names bloggers, others it paid to comment on Google trial

Truth be told, it's a bit of a letdown but Oracle today revealed the extent of its financial relationship with "commentators" during its recently concluded court case with Google.

The court had issued an order earlier this month, instructing the companies to disclose the names of people commenting or reporting on the case who received money for their services. In a filing today (see below), Oracle said that it had put copyright specialist Florian Mueller on its payroll as a consultant. Mueller, who writes a popular blog called Foss Patents, had earlier disclosed his relationship with Oracle. … Read more

Oracle pays $2 million SEC fine to settle India corruption case

The Securities and Exchange Commission charged Oracle under the Foreign Corrupt Practices act for failing to keep its India subsidiary from creating a slush fund used to pay phony vendors.

According to an SEC statement, Oracle settled the charges by paying a $2 million fine. For Oracle, the SEC flap is the latest court setback. For example, Hewlett-Packard recently won lawsuit over Oracle's decision to not support Itanium. The Itanium suit is a problem for Oracle, which will likely appeal the setback since HP could garner significant damages. The Java loss vs. Google was also notable … Read more

Judge to Oracle, Google: Did you pay off bloggers?

Though now eclipsed by Apple v. Samsung, there is still digital paperwork floating around for Oracle v. Google.

Judge William Alsup issued a brief but specific order on Tuesday afternoon from the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, demanding both parties to basically fess up if they have kept any journalists and/or commentators on the payroll during the duration of the case.

Here's the order, which much like Alsup's style in the courtroom, cuts right to the point:

The Court is concerned that the parties and/or counsel herein may have retained or paid print or … Read more

SAP to pay $306M to Oracle after infringement fight

Oracle has won at least one legal battle this week. SAP is paying the hardware giant $306 million in damages resulting from a copyright infringement suit.

Unlike the fight against Google, it looks like victory over SAP really is a payday. SAP's bill to Oracle continues to get bigger as Oracle's general counsel Dorian Daley said in a statement that SAP will have to pay "a minimum of $426 million, including attorneys’ fees."

Oracle originally filed the lawsuit in 2007 against SAP, arguing that SAP downloaded and copied intellectual property. The case didn't go to … Read more

In Itanium legal tiff, HP wins over Oracle

Oracle just can't catch a break in any of its courtroom battles lately. Hewlett-Packard has just won a major court ruling in the Itanium case against the hardware giant.

Here are the key points in the ruling handed down by the Superior Court of California this afternoon:

The Settlement and Release Agreement entered into by HP and Oracle in September 2010 required Oracle to continue to offer its product suite on HP’s Itanium-based server platforms and didn't permit Oracle to decide on its own whether to do so or not. That agreement also pertains to any Oracle … Read more