The German software maker SAP will pay the Oracle software giant 971 million euros for infringement of copyrights, ruled today by a federal jury in Oakland (California, USA) after a long legal battle. The eight-member jury delivered its verdict a day after the two software companies delivered their closing arguments in the process, according to the daily Wall Street Journal in its online edition .

The dispute began in March 2007, when Oracle has accused SAP of violating 120 of its copyright license to illegally download software and documents owned by a subsidiary of German company called TomorrowNow. SAP has admitted responsibility for the actions of its subsidiary, which no longer works, but his lawyers estimated that the fine for such negligence should not exceed 41 million dollars. In contrast, Oracle's lawyer, David Boies, requested a penalty of between 288 and 3,000 million dollars.

"Of course we are disappointed by this verdict, and examine all options to reverse it, including motions after the end of the trial and even appeal, if necessary," SAP said in a statement after the trial. He added that this process will be "prolonged" and hoped that unnecessary years of litigation.