HTC sues Apple after Google sells tech patents

Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC has fired a fresh salvo in its ongoing war with Apple over patent infringement. HTC has used patents it bought from Google last week to lodge a fresh complaint against Apple with the US International Trade Commission (ITC). It has alleged that Apple's computers and mobile devices infringe patents involving wi-fi capability and processor communication technology. This is the third complaint that HTC has filed against Apple. "We are taking this action against Apple to protect our intellectual property, our industry partners, and most importantly our customers that use HTC phones," said Grace Lei, general counsel of HTC. Apple vs android? HTC is not the only smartphone maker involved in a legal tussle with Apple. Samsung Electronics, which makes the Galaxy series of smartphones and tablet PCs, has also been fighting a legal battle against Apple. End Quote Andrew Milroy Frost & Sullivan Apple has filed complaints against the South Korean manufacturer accusing it of infringing its patents. It said that Samsung copied the design and look of Apple's iPhone and iPad devices. Samsung has counter-sued Apple, saying it infringed Samsung's wireless patents. Both HTC and Samsung use Google's Android operating system in most of their smartphones. Analysts said that HTC's latest legal action, which uses patents it acquired from Google, indicates that the tussle is becoming a much bigger issue than just a simple fight between two manufacturers. "It is becoming a kind of an Android versus Apple war," Andrew Milroy of Frost & Sullivan told the BBC. Mr Milroy continued that tighter cooperation between HTC, Samsung and Google would create a strong rival to Apple. "I see them being in a very strong position if they get together to take on Apple," he said. "Google plus Samsung plus HTC is a very big force to fight against." Many fronts Samsung Galaxy S Apple has accused Samsung of infringing its patents with the Galaxy line of smartphones and tablets The companies have been stepping up their legal action against each other this year. And in the early salvos, Apple seems to have got the upper hand. "We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours," Carolyn Wu, a spokeswoman for Apple told the BBC. Last month, a court in the Netherlands banned Samsung from selling three models of its Galaxy smartphones in a number of European countries after Apple filed a claim for patent infringement. Earlier this week, Samsung pulled out its new Galaxy Tab 7.7 from the IFA electronics fair in Berlin, one the world's largest electronics shows, after a court blocked sales of the product in Germany.