The company is seeking $17.5m in damages, according to reports, and wants an injunction issued against Google to stop showing its news items in the first paragraph of its new feeds.

Speculation has suggested that Agence France Presse (AFP) is taking action because the basis of the company relies upon 600 paying clients who subscribe to use its news service.

Google is providing a link to the web site allowing people to read the content for free. The lawsuit is also accusing Google of ignoring AFP’s previous requests to refrain from advertising the unauthorized content on its News web pages.

This is the latest lawsuit filed against Google, who was a few months ago forced to answer claims from nude photography firm Perfect 10 that the internet company illegally let people view versions of the Beverley Hills, California-based firm’s photos, which are published and distributed via its own web site and magazine.