Software giant Oracle commenced its high stakes trial over smartphone technology against internet concern Google in a California court.

The case represents the first big court challenge for android technology and at an estimated $1bn claim it is expected to become one of the largest ever technology trials.

Oracle first accused Google's Android team of patent and copyright infringement in August 2010 saying that Google used its Java programming language without authorisation to help develop Android software. It is believed that the trial may result in Oracle offering a user license to Google.

Testimony is expected to be given by the companies' CEOs, Larry Page and Larry Ellison, in which Google is expected to say that Oracle cannot copyright certain parts of Java.

The case will be split into three parts to deal with patent claims, copyright liability and damages separately.