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USC Files Antitrust-Focused Patent Lawsuit Against Google Over Mapping Technology

By  |  October 29, 2025

The University of Southern California (USC) has launched a legal battle against Google, accusing the tech giant of infringing on patented technology that underpins some of its most widely used mapping tools. The lawsuit, filed Monday in a Texas federal court, claims that Google’s Earth, Maps, and Street View applications violate two USC-owned patents tied to methods for overlaying two-dimensional imagery onto three-dimensional models, according to Reuters.

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    The complaint argues that the disputed technology, developed by a USC professor, was instrumental in revolutionizing how digital maps are experienced—specifically, by integrating real-world 2D images into 3D virtual landscapes. Per Reuters, USC alleges that this innovation laid the foundation for the immersive navigation features that now define Google’s mapping ecosystem.

    The university contends that Google was aware of the technology for years. The lawsuit notes that in 2007, Google awarded both the university and the professor a research prize for the very project that later resulted in the contested patents. USC’s filing claims that Google subsequently incorporated similar technology into its products without appropriate licensing or compensation.

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    USC is seeking unspecified monetary damages and a permanent injunction barring Google from further using the patented technology. The university emphasized that it is “seeking to be fairly compensated for the university’s important contributions in this area,” according to Reuters.

    Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda declined to comment on the litigation when contacted Tuesday. The case, officially titled University of Southern California v. Google LLC, is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas under docket number 1:25-cv-01734.

    The lawsuit adds to growing antitrust scrutiny faced by Google in recent years, highlighting ongoing tensions between major tech firms and research institutions over intellectual property rights and the control of foundational digital technologies.

    Source: Reuters