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In a press release out of Cupertino this week, Apple announced it is suing HTC for patent infringement in 20 different cases. According to Apple, the patents in question deal with the iPhone’s user interface, underlying architecture and hardware, meaning that HTC is being attacked from all sides on this one. While the specific patents aren’t mentioned, this could become a long battle for HTC to stay above water if it turns out Apple’s case is well presented.

As for the reasoning behind the suit, Steve Jobs has been quoted as saying:

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.

As you may know, HTC was responsible for creating both the first Android based mobile phone as well as Google’s current Nexus One. In terms of design, it appears as if the interesting phones coming out of HTC have become too much like the iPhone for Apple to handle. Either way, it will certainly be fun to watch this one play out. I’m sure Apple’s patent lawyers have been building this case for a while (well, when they’re not suing Nokia at least).

Via [Business Insider]