Apple Hits HTC with Second ITC Patent Complaint

Apple filed a second patent infringement complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against HTC last Friday. Details of the complaint aren’t available yet, but with a title like “Portable Electronic Devices and Related Software,” it’s a safe bet that Apple is still targeting HTC’s Android-based smartphones.

Apple v HTC

Apple’s original ITC patent infringement complaint alleged HTC is using iPhone-related technology without permission or proper licensing. That complaint, along with a Delaware-based lawsuit, were filed in March 2010.

At the time, Apple CEO Steve Jobs stated “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.”

That first filing led to a second lawsuit against HTC in June 2010.

HTC responded to Apple’s lawsuits by claiming the patents in question are invalid. HTC CEO Peter Chou added “HTC disagrees with Apple’s actions and will fully defend itself.”

Apple and HTC have not commented on the new ITC filing.

[Thanks to Bloomberg for the heads up.]