To settle disputes that arose from Oracle’s hiring HP’s former CEO, the two signed a settlement agreement containing a “reaffirmation” clause that  stating each company’s commitment to their strategic relationship and support of their shared customer base, and that Oracle ““will continue to offer its product suite on HP platforms.”  This lengthy opinion holds that the quoted words committed Oracle to follow its former voluntary practice of making new versions of its programs compatible for use on HP’s Itanium-based computer systems.  The quoted clause reaffirmed a prior non-contractual practice, thereby making it a contractual commitment, rather than merely reaffirming a prior contract.  Extrinsic evidence supported the plain language interpretation of the reaffirmation clause.  It showed what the prior practice was and thus what Oracle agreed to continue into the future.