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 the HTC Corporation.

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.

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.

Apple claimed that the South Korean manufacturer had infringed 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 HTC's latest legal action using patents it acquired from Google to sue Apple indicates the tussle is becoming a much bigger issue than just a fight between manufacturers.

"It is becoming a kind of an Android versus Apple war," Andrew Milroy of Frost & Sullivan told the BBC.

He said that as the animosity between Apple and its rivals increases, there was a possibility that they may join forces further.

"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."

(Source: BBC News)