The White House is finally standing up to Google, but at perhaps the exact wrong time.

The Department of Justice filed a brief Wednesday recommending that the US Supreme Court reject Google's appeal in Oracle's lawsuit against the company over its use of elements of the Java programming language. This doesn't mean that the Supreme Court won't hear the case. But the White House's opposition does cast doubt on whether it will wind up on the docket.

Much has been made of Google's close ties to the White House. Earlier this year the Wall Street Journal examined Google's cozy relationship with regulators during the Federal Trade Commission's antitrust investigation into the company, which was settled in 2012. And advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has been calling foul for years. Both point out that Google spends an enormous amount money on lobbying, outspending competitors and similarly sized companies in other industries, and enjoys extensive access to political leaders.