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Google's Chrome for mobile targeted in patent suit

Google's Chrome browser for mobile devices is the target of a new lawsuit from a patent holder that has previously targeted Apple.

Josh Lowensohn Former Senior Writer
Josh Lowensohn joined CNET in 2006 and now covers Apple. Before that, Josh wrote about everything from new Web start-ups, to remote-controlled robots that watch your house. Prior to joining CNET, Josh covered breaking video game news, as well as reviewing game software. His current console favorite is the Xbox 360.
Josh Lowensohn
2 min read
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The mobile version of Google's Chrome browser is the latest target of EMG Technology, a patent firm that says the tech giant is infringing on its navigation technology.

The suit (PDF), which was filed earlier this week in District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in the Tyler Division, seeks damages as well as an injunction to keep Google from offering Chrome for mobile devices in the U.S.

In a statement, Elliot Gottfurcht, EMG's managing member and lead inventor restated claims made in the suit, alleging that Google's browser steps on one of its patents :

Google's Chrome Mobile Browser directly infringes the '196 patent by displaying mobile webpages on smart phones and tablets using EMG's patented simplified navigation system, which permits users to navigate a touch screen with unique inputs and to manipulate the screen for zooming and scrolling. Mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets, made by Motorola (which is owned by Google) and Samsung, use Google's Chrome Mobile Browser to navigate mobile web sites using EMG's patented simplified navigation system.

CNET has reached out to Google for more information, and will update this post when we know more.

This is not EMG's first suit to target Web browsers on mobile devices. The company took aim at Apple in 2008 for infringing the same patent, saying it applied specifically to Apple's iOS devices, since it's a part of navigating Web pages, and applications. That suit originally targeted Apple's iTunes Store, iPhone, iPod Touch and Apple TV, with EMG later adding Apple's iPad once it was released. The two parties settled in March of last year.

Google's had a mobile version of its chrome browser available for some Android devices since February of this year. It now ships as the default browser as of Android 4.1. The company also released a version for Apple's iOS last month, though it's not mentioned in the complaint.