History of Oracle Corporation in Timeline
Oracle Corporation, a multinational computer technology company headquartered in Austin, Texas, was co-founded in 1977 by Larry Ellison, who still serves as executive chairman. As of 2020, Oracle was the third-largest software company globally in terms of revenue and market capitalization. In 2023, it held the 80th position on the Forbes Global 2000 list.
1977: Software Development Laboratories (SDL) Founded
Larry Ellison co-founded Software Development Laboratories (SDL) with Bob Miner and Ed Oates in 1977, which later became Oracle Corporation.
1977: Oracle Corporation Founded
Oracle Corporation was co-founded in 1977 by Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, and Ed Oates.
1979: SDL Becomes Relational Software, Inc.
In 1979, Software Development Laboratories (SDL) changed its name to Relational Software, Inc. (RSI).
1983: RSI Becomes Oracle Systems Corporation
In 1983, Relational Software, Inc. (RSI) was renamed Oracle Systems Corporation, taking its name from its flagship product, Oracle Database.
March 12, 1986: Oracle's Initial Public Offering
On March 12, 1986, Oracle Corporation went public with its initial public offering (IPO).
1988: Oracle and SAP Begin Cooperation
Oracle Corporation and SAP AG initiated a decade-long collaboration in 1988, integrating SAP's R/3 enterprise application suite with Oracle's relational database products. Despite future partnerships between SAP and Microsoft, Oracle and SAP continued their cooperation, with a majority of SAP customers reportedly using Oracle databases.
1989: Oracle Releases Oracle Financials
In 1989, Oracle Corporation released Oracle Financials, marking an early entry into the enterprise-applications market.
1989: Oracle Moves Headquarters to Redwood Shores
In 1989, Oracle moved its headquarters to Redwood Shores, California, although the campus wasn't completed until 1995.
1990: Oracle Layoffs Due to Accounting Errors
In 1990, Oracle laid off 10% of its workforce due to accounting errors related to its "up-front" marketing strategy.
1992: Ellison Admits Business Mistake
Larry Ellison acknowledged Oracle's accounting errors as a "business mistake" in 1992.
1994: Informix Becomes Oracle's Main Rival
Informix surpassed Sybase to become Oracle's primary competitor in 1994, sparking a fierce rivalry.
1995: Oracle Systems Corporation Becomes Oracle Corporation
Oracle Systems Corporation officially changed its name to Oracle Corporation in 1995.
1995: Oracle Redwood Shores Campus Completed
Oracle's Redwood Shores campus was completed in 1995.
1997: Informix Drops Lawsuit Against Oracle
Informix withdrew its lawsuit against Oracle in 1997.
2000: Oracle Investigates Microsoft Supporters
In 2000, Oracle hired private investigators to examine the trash of organizations supporting Microsoft during its antitrust trial. Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison defended the action as a "public service".
2001: IBM Acquires Informix
IBM acquired Informix Software in 2001.
2002: Oracle Emphasizes Security and Reliability
In 2002, Oracle Corporation launched a marketing campaign highlighting the security and reliability of its products with the slogan "Can't break it, can't break in" or "Unbreakable".
2003: Oracle's Acquisition Spree Begins
Starting in 2003, Oracle began a series of acquisitions, particularly in the applications sector.
2004: Oracle Increases Focus on Enterprise Applications Market
In 2004, Oracle Corporation began a series of acquisitions, including PeopleSoft, Siebel Systems, and Hyperion, marking its increased interest in the enterprise-applications market.
2004: Oracle's Sales Growth
In 2004, Oracle's sales increased by 14.5% to $6.2 billion.
2004: US Attorney General Sues Oracle
In 2004, then-US Attorney General John Ashcroft sued Oracle to block its acquisition of an intelligence contract.
March 2005: Oracle Leads Relational-Database Market
As of March 2005, Oracle held the largest share of the relational-database market at 41.3%.
November 2005: Book Published on Oracle-Informix Rivalry
A book detailing the rivalry between Oracle and Informix, "The Real Story of Informix Software and Phil White," was published in November 2005.
2005: Oracle Hires Ashcroft Group
Following his resignation, John Ashcroft founded The Ashcroft Group, a lobbying firm that Oracle hired in 2005. With the group's assistance, Oracle successfully secured the previously contested intelligence contract.
March 22, 2007: Oracle Sues SAP
On March 22, 2007, Oracle Corporation filed a lawsuit against SAP, alleging fraud and unfair competition in the software-applications market.
July 3, 2007: SAP Admits to Inappropriate Downloads
On July 3, 2007, SAP acknowledged that its TomorrowNow subsidiary had made "inappropriate downloads" from Oracle's support website. While admitting wrongdoing, SAP maintained that its personnel and customers did not have access to Oracle's intellectual property through TomorrowNow. SAP CEO Henning Kagermann expressed regret and announced operational changes at TomorrowNow.
2008: Oracle Expands Product Lines
By 2008, Oracle had expanded its product lines following several acquisitions.
2008: Oracle Beehive Release
Oracle released its Beehive collaboration software in 2008, offering features such as team workspaces, email, calendar, instant messaging, and conferencing.
January 2010: Sun Microsystems Acquisition
In January 2010, Oracle completed its acquisition of Sun Microsystems for over $7 billion, expanding into hardware manufacturing.
January 2010: Java Acquisition
In January 2010, Oracle acquired the Java programming language through its acquisition of Sun Microsystems.
February 2010: OpenSSO Discontinuation
After acquiring Sun Microsystems in February 2010, Oracle announced the discontinuation of OpenSSO as a strategic product, which led to the creation of the OpenAM fork.
July 29, 2010: Department of Justice Lawsuit
On July 29, 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Oracle, alleging the company defrauded the government by providing inferior deals compared to commercial clients. This supported an existing whistleblower lawsuit.
August 13, 2010: OpenSolaris Discontinuation
On August 13, 2010, a leaked memo revealed Oracle's plans to discontinue the OpenSolaris operating system project, leading developers to migrate to other projects.
September 6, 2010: Mark Hurd Replaces Charles Phillips
On September 6, 2010, Oracle appointed former HP CEO Mark Hurd as co-president, replacing Charles Phillips.
September 7, 2010: HP Lawsuit against Mark Hurd
On September 7, 2010, HP sued Mark Hurd to protect its trade secrets after he joined Oracle. The lawsuit was later settled.
November 1, 2010: OpenOffice.org Developers Resign
On November 1, 2010, 33 OpenOffice.org developers resigned from Oracle following conflicts over the project's future, ultimately leading to the creation of LibreOffice.
November 23, 2010: SAP Ordered to Pay Oracle $1.3 Billion
On November 23, 2010, a U.S. district court jury ruled that SAP must pay Oracle $1.3 billion for copyright infringement. While SAP admitted liability, they disputed the amount, leading to appeals and a reduced award in later proceedings.
2010: Oracle Sues Google
In 2010, Oracle sued Google for copyright infringement relating to Google's use of 37 Java packages, seeking between $1.4 billion and $6.1 billion in damages.
2010: Oracle Team USA wins America's Cup
In 2010, Oracle Team USA, competing as BMW Oracle Racing, won the America's Cup, marking a significant achievement in competitive sailing for Larry Ellison's team.
June 1, 2011: OpenOffice.org Donation
On June 1, 2011, Oracle donated OpenOffice.org to the Apache Software Foundation.
June 15, 2011: HP files lawsuit against Oracle
On June 15, 2011, HP filed a lawsuit against Oracle in California Superior Court, claiming that Oracle breached an agreement to support the Itanium microprocessor used in HP's enterprise servers. Oracle dismissed the lawsuit as "an abuse of the judicial process" and indicated that knowledge of Léo Apotheker's hiring as HP's CEO would have influenced their support decisions.
June 2011: Court Order on Damage Details
In June 2011, a judge ordered Google to disclose the details of Oracle's damage claims in the Java copyright infringement lawsuit.
August 2011: Oracle Investigated for Bribery
In August 2011, The Wall Street Journal reported that Oracle was under investigation by the FBI for potential bribery of government officials in Africa, a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
September 1, 2011: Judge Overturns $1.3 Billion Award Against SAP
On September 1, 2011, a federal judge overturned the $1.3 billion copyright infringement award against SAP, deeming it excessive and offering a reduced amount or a new trial. Oracle opted for a new trial.
September 2011: WikiLeaks Cable Release
In September 2011, leaked U.S. State Department cables revealed pressure on the EU to approve Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems.
2011: Settlement of DoJ Lawsuit
In 2011, Oracle settled a lawsuit with the Department of Justice that alleged fraud related to government contracts.
2011: Oracle settles lawsuit with GSA
In 2011, Oracle settled a lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act, accused of overbilling the US government between 1998 and 2006. Oracle agreed to pay $199.5 million to the General Services Administration as part of the settlement.
April 20, 2012: US General Services Administration bans Oracle
On April 20, 2012, Oracle was banned by the US General Services Administration from the most popular portal for bidding on GSA contracts. This decision followed a previous settlement in 2011, where Oracle paid $199.5 million over allegations of overbilling the US government.
August 1, 2012: Court ruling on Oracle's software support for HP
On August 1, 2012, a California judge ruled that Oracle must continue providing software support for HP's Itanium-based servers at no cost, until HP discontinues their sales. This was due to a legal dispute where HP claimed Oracle's cancellation of support had damaged its server brand.
August 3, 2012: SAP and Oracle Agree on $306 Million Settlement
On August 3, 2012, SAP and Oracle reached a $306 million settlement in the copyright infringement case. This settlement, pending court approval, aimed to avoid a new trial. In addition to the settlement, SAP had already paid Oracle $120 million in legal fees.
2012: SEC Settlement
In 2012, Oracle agreed to pay approximately $2 million to settle charges with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by its Indian subsidiary.
July 15, 2013: Oracle Stock Transfers to NYSE
On July 15, 2013, Oracle transferred its stock listing from Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange.
October 1, 2013: Cover Oregon Website Launch Fails
On October 1, 2013, the Oracle-developed Cover Oregon healthcare exchange website experienced a failed launch, forcing Oregon to resort to paper applications.
2013: Oracle Team USA wins America's Cup again
In 2013, Oracle Team USA secured another victory in the America's Cup, despite facing penalties for cheating. This victory highlighted the team's resilience and competitive spirit.
April 25, 2014: Oregon Discontinues Cover Oregon
On April 25, 2014, Oregon decided to abandon the troubled Cover Oregon website and utilize the federal healthcare exchange, citing cost savings compared to fixing the existing system.
May 9, 2014: Appeals Court Ruling on Java APIs
On May 9, 2014, the appeals court ruled that Java APIs are copyrightable in the Oracle v. Google case, but left open the possibility of a fair use defense for Google.
August 2014: Oracle and Oregon Sue Each Other
In August 2014, Oracle and the state of Oregon filed lawsuits against each other related to the failed Cover Oregon project, alleging breach of contract and other issues.
October 6, 2014: Supreme Court Appeal Denied
On October 6, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Google's petition to appeal the appeals court ruling in the Oracle v. Google Java copyright case.
2014: Start of Alleged FCPA Violations
This marks the beginning of the period during which Oracle's subsidiaries in India, Turkey, and the UAE allegedly created slush funds to bribe foreign officials, leading to a 2022 settlement with the SEC.
2014: Oracle Financials Ranked in Top 20 Accounting Software
In 2014, Oracle Financials was recognized by Capterra as one of the Top 20 Most Popular Accounting Software solutions, outperforming competitors like SAP.
2015: Treasury Contract Award
In 2015, South Africa's National Treasury awarded Oracle a contract that would later become the subject of a whistleblower complaint alleging FCPA violations.
May 2016: Jury Finds Fair Use
In May 2016, a jury found that Google's use of Java APIs constituted fair use, a significant development in the ongoing Oracle v. Google lawsuit.
September 2016: Oracle and Oregon Reach Settlement
In September 2016, Oracle and Oregon reached a settlement exceeding $100 million, which included a six-year agreement for Oracle to continue modernizing state software and IT systems.
2016: HP awarded damages from Oracle
In 2016, HP was awarded $3 billion in damages against Oracle as a result of the lawsuit regarding Oracle's withdrawal of support for HP's Itanium servers. Oracle announced its intention to appeal the decision.
February 2017: Oracle Appeals for New Trial
In February 2017, Oracle appealed for a new trial in the Java copyright case against Google, arguing that the District Court had undermined its case and led the jury to an incorrect decision.
2017: Oracle CEO-to-Employee Pay Ratio Reported
In 2017, Bloomberg reported Oracle's CEO-to-employee pay ratio as 1,205:1, with the CEO's compensation at $108,295,023. The median employee compensation was $89,887.
2017: Whistleblower Notification
In 2017, a whistleblower alerted the SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice about potential FCPA violations related to a 2015 contract awarded by South Africa's National Treasury to Oracle.
May 16, 2018: Oracle Acquires DataScience.com
On May 16, 2018, Oracle acquired DataScience.com, a cloud workspace platform for data science projects.
2018: Oracle Ranks 82nd on Fortune 500
In 2018, Oracle was ranked 82nd on the Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by revenue.
2018: Contract Value Equivalent
In 2018, the 2015 contract awarded by National Treasury to Oracle was equivalent to R1.17 billion or US$88.54 million.
2019: Oracle and Microsoft Partnership
In 2019, Oracle announced a partnership with Microsoft to connect Oracle Cloud and Microsoft Azure, allowing customers to use both platforms.
2019: End of Alleged FCPA Violations
This marks the end of the period during which Oracle allegedly violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which began in 2014, by using slush funds in various subsidiaries to bribe foreign officials.
September 13, 2020: Oracle wins bid for TikTok US operations
On September 13, 2020, Oracle was reported to have won a bidding war to take over TikTok's US operations, amidst pressure from the Trump administration for a shutdown. Oracle was described as a "trusted tech partner" by TikTok.
September 19, 2020: Trump administration approves TikTok sale to Oracle
On September 19, 2020, the Trump administration approved the sale of TikTok's US operations to Oracle. This decision delayed restrictions initially set to take effect on September 20, 2020, by one week.
December 11, 2020: Oracle Moves Headquarters to Austin
On December 11, 2020, Oracle announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters from Redwood Shores to Austin, Texas.
December 2020: Oracle headquarters relocates to Austin, Texas
Since December 2020, Oracle Corporation's world headquarters has been situated in Austin, Texas, marking a significant relocation. Oracle plans to develop a major office hub in Nashville, Tennessee, in the coming decades.
2020: Oracle Ranks Third Largest Software Company
As of 2020, Oracle ranked as the third-largest software company globally by revenue and market capitalization.
December 31, 2020: Oracle Reports Carbon Emissions and Reduction Plans
For the twelve months ending December 31, 2020, Oracle reported total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions of 428 kilotonnes, a 17% increase year over year. The company announced plans to reduce emissions by 26% by 2025, based on 2015 levels.
February 10, 2021: Biden administration halts TikTok sale
On February 10, 2021, reports indicated that the Biden administration would not be proceeding with banning TikTok, shelving the sale indefinitely as the U.S. Commerce Department reviewed the claims justifying the ban.
December 2021: Oracle Announces Acquisitions of Cerner and Federos
In December 2021, Oracle announced its intention to acquire Cerner, a health IT firm, and Federos, an AI and automation company.
December 20, 2021: Oracle agrees to acquire Cerner Corporation
On December 20, 2021, Oracle announced an agreement to acquire Cerner Corporation for approximately $28.3 billion. Cerner, a leading supplier of health information technology, would become part of Oracle's new Industry Business Unit.
June 8, 2022: Oracle Acquires Cerner
Oracle completed the acquisition of Cerner, a health information technology company, on June 8, 2022, for $28.3 billion.
July 2022: Oracle completes acquisition of Cerner
In July 2022, Oracle completed the acquisition of Cerner Corporation after receiving final approval from European regulators. This acquisition became Oracle's largest and one of the largest in corporate history.
August 2022: Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Oracle for Surveillance
In August 2022, a class action lawsuit accused Oracle of illegal surveillance practices, alleging the company tracked and recorded the personal information of hundreds of millions of people, violating privacy laws.
September 2022: SEC Settlement
In September 2022, Oracle settled with the SEC for $23 million over FCPA violations. The SEC alleged Oracle subsidiaries in India, Turkey, and the UAE created slush funds to bribe foreign officials for business between 2014 and 2019.
2022: Oracle Shares DoD Cloud Contract
In 2022, Oracle secured a share of a $9 billion cloud computing contract with the United States Department of Defense, alongside Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.
February 2023: Oracle Invests in Saudi Arabia
During February 2023, Oracle announced a $1.5 billion investment in Saudi Arabia, including plans for a new data center in Riyadh.
February 27, 2023: Biden sets deadline for TikTok removal from federal devices
On February 27, 2023, President Biden announced a requirement for federal agencies to remove TikTok from all federal devices within thirty days, marking a shift in his stance on the application.
2023: Oracle's Forbes Global 2000 Ranking
In 2023, Oracle held the 80th position in the Forbes Global 2000 list.
March 8, 2024: Biden threatens TikTok ban without divestment
On March 8, 2024, President Biden stated he would sign a bill banning TikTok in the U.S. if its parent company ByteDance did not divest its ownership, continuing concerns over the application's ties to China.