ITC to investigate Apple after HTC claims

HTC and Apple have both filed patent infringement suits

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is to investigate allegations by Taiwanese handset manufacturer HTC that Apple's iPhone technology infringes on some of its patents.

The investigation follows a complaint filed by HTC on 12 May claiming that Apple had violated section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 "in the importation into the US and sale of certain portable electronic devices and related software that infringe patents asserted by HTC".

HTC is pushing for an ITC exclusion order and a cease and desist order.

"The ITC has voted to institute an investigation of certain portable electronic devices and related software," noted a statement from the ITC.

"The products at issue in this investigation are portable electronic devices that utilise certain power management methods and may incorporate hardware and software for telephone directories within mobile telephone systems."

The filing comes just a few months after Apple instigated legal action against HTC over similar patent infringement issues.

"We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs at the time.

"We've decided to do something about it. We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."

Google has since come out in support of HTC, issuing a statement that it "stands behind" the partners that have helped develop its Android operating system.