Oracle can question Google’s Larry Page in patent dispute

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Oracle will get its shot at questioning Google CEO Larry Page in the high-stakes -- and already very testy -- patent litigation that has pitted the two tech giants against each other.

Oracle sued Google last year in federal court, claiming its Android mobile device software infringes on Oracle’s Java patents, which it picked up in 2010 when it bought Sun Microsystems. Oracle is seeking billions of dollars in damages.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu issued an order late Thursday giving Oracle permission to depose Page for two hours about his knowledge of any alleged infringement of the patents. Google denies it infringed on the patents.

‘Oracle may depose Mr. Page for a maximum of two hours, excluding breaks, solely on topics relevant to the willfulness of Defendant’s alleged patent infringement, and the value of Android to the Defendant,’ the judge ruled.

Google had fought the request to have Oracle depose the Google co-founder, who took over as chief executive in April. But intellectual property analyst Florian Mueller predicted Oracle had a good chance of getting the request granted.

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-- Jessica Guynn