Google and Adobe Systems have been sued for allegedly violating a patents used for processing text

Textscape alleges Google is violating a patent that covers a method for managing a body of text on a computer that was granted to the company in 1998. Textscape says Google’s Chrome’s browser improperly uses the innovation.

The lawsuit specifically mentions the “find” feature in Chrome, which allows a search of text on a Web page and indicates the location of search hits in the scrollbar. Textscape is seeking royalties.

Adobe is accused of violating a different patent but one that also relates to text processing, granted to Textscape in 1999.

The patent covers “a system and method which enables individuals to manipulate text retrieved by a computer in such a manner that the computer user can rapidly and accurately obtain information about the content of a retrieved body of text without reading the text,” according to the court filing.

Textscape, which is asking for a jury trial on both cases, wants both Adobe and Google to pay royalties. The cases were filed on Sept. 25 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. [PC World]

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