Apple has filed suit against HTC, claiming the smartphone maker is infringing on 20 of its patents pertaining to the iPhone's user interface, architecture and hardware.

Apple has taken its complaint to both the U.S. International Trade Commission and U.S. District Court in Delaware. Apple CEO Steve Jobs issued these fighting words: "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."

HTC makes a range of smartphones, including Google's Android-based Nexus One. In a response, HTC said that it "values patent rights and their enforcement but is also committed to defending its own technology innovations."

At press time, HTC said it had learned of Apple's move via media reports and therefore wasn't going to comment until it could investigate the filings.  

Apple is current involved in a patent dispute with Nokia. Last month, the ITC said it will investigate Apple's patent-infringement claims against Nokia. The decision came roughly three weeks after the ITC said it would investigate Nokia's own patent-infringement claims against Apple to determine whether imports of Apple devices should be banned.

For more:
- read this release
- see the filing via AllThingsD

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