Settlement likely in Google-Oracle patent case

Google and Oracle's patent infringement case is heating up considerably as it gets closer to the scheduled Halloween trial date over.
Not only is the trial commencement time possibly up in the air, but a settlement between the two Silicon Valley giants could actually happen.
Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a brief order on Friday afternoon revealing that he might order the "top executive officers" of both companies to come to court for a day or two.
That means we could potentially see Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Google CEO Larry Page get involved with some real courtroom drama action.
But before we get too excited, the judge's memo does leave the door open to other possibilities as well at this point.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
ORACLE AMERICA, INC.,
Plaintiff,
v.
GOOGLE INC.,
Defendant.
/
No. C 10-03561 WHA
ORDER REGARDING
MEDIATION
Early on in this case the Court allowed both sides to skip the Court’s mediation plan and
use a private mediator instead. The private mediation thus far has not succeeded. We are close to
trial. Subject to considering the views of counsel, the Court is inclined to order both sides to
mediate the case before a United States Magistrate Judge and to order the top executive officers
of both sides to be in attendance for one or two complete days as necessary in the judgment of the
Magistrate Judge. Counsel may comment on this proposal, including identifying who the
appropriate top executives of both sides would be, by NOON on SEPTEMBER 7, 2011.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: September 2, 2011.
WILLIAM ALSUP
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE