Quote:
Originally Posted by pdurrant
There's no way to clean-room reverse engineer an API. There is no code in an API. It's just a specification of the functions provided and the parameters to those functions. You use the API when you're doing clean-room reverse engineering. Allowing copyright over APIs prevents any kind of emulation of software.
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Personally, I agree that APIs can't be reverse engineered.
But that was Google's first line of defense in this case. Until Oracle proved they hadn't "clean roomed" it.
That said, I don't think there is any law of man or nature that says anybody is entitled to copy somebody else's creation. Copyright, patent, fair use, are all creations of the legal system. If the system allows it, fine. If it doesn't, then pay up or do without. Don't like it? Talk to the IdiotPoliticians or take it to court.