Apple sues HTC

Alleged orchard thieves fingered.

The fiercely proprietary cappucchino company Apple has filed a lawsuit against HTC for allegedly infringing twenty of its patents.

The patents relate to the Iphone's user interface, hardware and architecture. The lawsuit was filed simultaneously with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) and in US District Court.

Steve Jobs adopted his most Bond villain-like pose and said, "We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it. We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."

Ring any bells? Well it isn't far from the statement released by the firm in December when it countersued Nokia over similar patent claims. "Other companies must compete with us by inventing their own technologies, not just by stealing ours," said Bruce Sewell, Apple's general counsel and senior vice president. Let's just hope that Sewell does not sue Jobs for plagiarism.

In a statement HTC countered, "HTC is a mobile technology innovator and patent holder that has been very focused over the past 13 years on creating many of the most innovative smartphones. HTC values patent rights and their enforcement but is also committed to defending its own technology innovations. HTC only learned of Apple's actions this morning via media reports, and therefore we have not yet had the opportunity to investigate the filings. Until we have had this opportunity, we are unable to comment on the validity of the claims being made against HTC."