The stakes are big at the top of the hightech tree. And it looks as if Google is about to find out just how big

Should Google lose this IP battle, the cash would go to Oracle and Microsoft, reported the website.

Oracle expert witness Iain Cockburn, a Boston University professor, argues that Google would owe unspecified damages if Android was found to infringe on Java.

If Oracle wins heavy damages it’s likely Google would have to rewrite Android—a huge undertaking.

IP expert Florian Mueller writes that the lawsuit had "the potential to bring about a restructuring of Google’s Android business in economic as well as technical terms."

Google admits it could have done a licence deal with Sun (apparently before it was acquired by Oracle) but turned down the deal. That refusal could now prove one of the worst mistakes in Google’s 13-year history as a company, says Mueller. 

ZDNet points out that Oracle’s lawyers play hardball. 

The suit is expected to be settled out of court . "Look no farther than the damages Oracle won vs. SAP in the TomorrowNow lawsuit. Few saw $1.3 billion in damages coming. At the moment, Google and Oracle are haggling over how to narrow the scope of the trial., " says ZDNet.