Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/20pdf/18-956_d18f.pdf
Page Number: 56.0

Cite as:  593 U. S. ____ (2021) 

13 

THOMAS, J., dissenting 

enter the modern smartphone market successfully.7  Ante, 
at 31–32.  But whether Oracle could itself enter that market 
is only half the picture.  We look at not only the potential 
market “that creators of original works would in general de-
velop” but also those potential markets the copyright holder
might “license others to develop.”  Campbell v. Acuff-Rose 
Music, Inc., 510 U. S. 569, 592 (1994).  A book author need 
not be able to personally convert a book into a film so long 
as he can license someone else to do so.  That Oracle could 
have licensed its code for use in Android is undisputed. 

Unable  to  seriously  dispute  that  Google’s  actions  had  a
disastrous effect on Oracle’s potential market, the majority
changes course and asserts that enforcing copyright protec-
tion  could  harm  the  public  by  giving  Oracle  the  power  to 
“limi[t] the future creativity” of programs on Android.  Ante, 
at 34.  But this case concerns only versions of Android re-
leased through November 2014.  Order in No. 3:10–cv–3561 
(ND Cal., Feb. 5, 2016), Doc. 1479, p. 2 (identifying versions
through Android Lollipop 5.0).  Google has released six ma-
jor versions since then.  Only about 7.7% of active Android
devices still run the versions at issue.8  The majority’s con-
cern about a lock-in effect might carry more weight if this
suit concerned versions of Android widely in use or that will
be widely in use.  It makes little sense in a suit about ver-
sions that are close to obsolete. 

The majority’s concern about a lock-in effect also is spec-
ulation  belied  by  history.    First,  Oracle  never  had  lock-in 

—————— 

7 It also suggests that Oracle may have received some incidental bene-
fit  from  Android.  Ante,  at  32–33.    But  even  assuming  that  is  true,  it 
would go to the question of damages, not fair use.  And there is no evi-
dence that any benefit came even close to offsetting Oracle’s enormous 
loss. 

8 Rahman, Android Version Distribution Statistics Will Now Only Be
Available in Android Studio (Apr. 10, 2020), https://www.xda-developers.
com/android-version-distribution-statistics-android-studio.