In an unusual declaration, Judge William Alsup has ordered both parties in the Google versus Oracle Java patent case to reveal to the court the identities of bloggers, commenters, and pundits on their payrolls. Alsup doesn't state any detailed reasons for the order, but has said in his ruling that information on "whether any treatise, article, commentary or analysis on the issues posed by this case are possibly influenced by financial relationships to the parties or counsel" would be useful on any appeal.
