Business software company Oracle is moving a US federal court against Google alleging patent and copyright infringement.

The dispute relates to the use of Java technology - the programming language used for the Android operating system development.

According to a statement from Oracle, Google "knowingly, directly and repeatedly infringed Oracle's Java-related intellectual property" for the development of Android.

"This lawsuit seeks appropriate remedies," it added.

Oracle acquired Java in a $5.6 billion purchase of Sun Microsystems earlier this year.

Larry Ellison Oracle chief views the Java software as a key asset.

According to analysts, the suit against Google indicates that Oracle would be more aggressive over licences for Java, which is used in a range of internet-based products.

Ellison has made it clear that Java is a key asset for the company due to its use in variety of electronic devices from personal computers to DVD players.

According to research firm Gartner, Android now has 17.2 per cent of the smartphone market, ahead of the 14.2 per cent owned by Apple.

However, Google's share is less than BlackBerry maker RIM's 18.2 per cent and much below 41.2 per cent of the market enjoyed by Nokia's Symbian system.

About 200,000 smartphones and other devices based on Android are sold every day, and according to Google chief executive Eric Schmidt, Oracle is perhaps seeking an injunction to stop Google from further building and distributing Android, in addition to higher monetary damages for willful and deliberate infringement.

According to industry experts part of Oracle's complaint focuses on a piece of software integrated in the Android operating system called Dalvik which is a virtual machine used for running some applications on Android devices.