Tech Roundup: Google Dysonics Acquisition, Yahoo! Answers Shutdown & More

[A recurring feature on the latest in Science & Technology.]

• The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Google's favour in a decade-long copyright dispute with Oracle over use of Java APIs when building Android; says "Google's copying of the [Java] API to reimplement a user interface, taking only what was needed to allow users to put their accrued talents to work in a new and transformative program, constituted a fair use of that material." (In the wake of the ruling, Oracle said: "The Google platform just got bigger and market power greater — the barriers to entry higher and the ability to compete lower. They stole Java and spent a decade litigating as only a monopolist can. This behavior is exactly why regulatory authorities around the world and in the United States are examining Google’s business practices." )
• Social audio app Clubhouse partners with Stripe to let users pay other creators directly without taking a cut as part of its first monetisation efforts; says "100% of the payment will go to the creator. Clubhouse will take nothing."

• Google confirms its December 2020 acquisition of 3D audio startup Dysonics for an undisclosed sum to chart out its audio hardware plans; opens up the Play Store to more third-party Android Auto apps in navigation, parking and charging categories, and begins integrating its Chat communication app into its Gmail app, months after incorporating Meet videoconferencing app into the email service.
• Verizon-owned Yahoo! to kill Yahoo! Answers effective May 4 after nearly 16 years online; to disable users' ability to pose new questions and provide answers on April 20.
• Popular messaging app Discord says it banned 2,212 servers for extremist content in the second half of 2020 and that it deleted 30,000 accounts for promoting violent or extremist content.
• Facebook expands its Pay service by rolling out person-to-person payments via QR codes, allowing users to scan a friend or family member's QR code, and instantly transfer money.
• Russia's state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor to extend its punitive slowdown of Twitter until May 15, following talks with the company last week and acknowledged faster deletions of banned content.