Adobe Systems sued for trade secret infringement

Graphics software maker, Shell and Slate Software, has filed an action alleging trade secret infringement by Adobe Systems this week in U.S. Federal District Court.

The pleadings allege that Adobe's Photoshop image-editing applications infringe on a portion of Shell and Slate's trade secrets. The crux of the case is reportedly over whether Adobe has the right to use the "Healing Brush", a sophisticated touch-up tool that is one of the most highly regarded new features in Photoshop 7.0.

Ben Weiss, Shell and Slate's founder, at one time worked for MetaCreations, and was the software architect of MetaCreations' Kai's Power Tools and Kai's Power Goo, imaging graphics editing products that are very similar to Adobe Photoshop. The suit alleges misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of contract concerning the "Healing Brush texture-cloning tool" included in Adobe Photoshop 7.0, according to the press statement. Texture cloning is a feature that allows graphic artists to manipulate images, such as the texture, shape and expressions of a human face.