Apple files lawsuit against HTC

In another jab at Google, Apple has filed a lawsuit against HTC for allegedly infringing on 20 of its US patents; many which revolve around the iPhone’s touch technology.

While Android isn’t mentioned in the lawsuit, it’s clear that many of the claims are against the OS and could be another blow in the escalating feud between Apple and Google.

HTC is one of the largest manufacturers of Android handsets, and the lawsuit, filed with the US International Trade Commission (ITC), is based on the company’s various Android smartphones, including the Droid and Nexus One. The complaints are based around HTC’s use of multi-touch technologies, but the full documents can be seen at Gizmodo and include a full list of patents Apple claimed have been infringed. And to show it means business, Apple has filed the lawsuit with the ITC, which can issue an order for the accused company to stop importing the infringing products into the US if Apple wins the case.

In a statement, Apple CEO Steve Jobs 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.”

The lawsuit apparently took HTC by surprise, as a spokesperson for the company commented to Gizmodo and said, “We have not been served any papers yet so we are in no position to comment on the claims. We respect and value patent rights but we are committed to defending our own innovations.”

And even though Google was not named directly in the lawsuit, it joined the debate and sent out a statement that said, “We are not party to this lawsuit. However, we stand behind our operating system and the partners who have helped us to develop it.”