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It seems like Groklaw has this all backwards. Android does not run Java.

So Sun's position would be that software patents would be acceptable in this case because Android is not interoperable with Java not trying to be.

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Android doesn't run Java, but still a big part of the trial was about some Java APIs used in Android that allow some bits of compatibility.

That's a very interesting point!

That said, it's not quite as cut and dry, given that API compatibility goes a long way.

The patents under dispute have absolutely no relevance to the API. Regardless of whether or not they are valid/justified/infringed by Google, they are not required to make any software that's interopable with Java. Groklaw, as usual, simply tries to flaunt whatever "incriminating" evidence it can find against Oracle. Groklaw's analysis is anything but reliable as far as this case is concerned.

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