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    The battle between Android and the rest of the mobile operating system world is heating up. Android may be outselling other operating systems, but Microsoft and Apple are fighting back with patents.

    In the latest twist, Apple has filed a new complaint against HTC, the Taiwanese smartphone maker, for patent infringement. Apple first filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission last year. The new complaint names electronic devices and software.

    The ITC is an independent federal agency that, among other things, reviews complaints against unfair trade practices involving patent, trademark and copyright infringement. It has the authority to order U.S. customs officials to block goods from entering the U.S. If Apple wins its bid, it would effectively block Nokia from bringing its handsets into the U.S.

    Apple filed the complaint on July 8, but was not immediately available to comment. But Grace Lei, HTC's general counsel, is denying any wrongdoing: "HTC is dismayed that Apple has resorted to competition in the courts rather than the market place."

    Mobile Wars Escalate

    There has been plenty of action in the mobile patent wars this year. Apple is also suing Samsung and Motorola. In late June, Apple amended the complaint it filed against Samsung. Apple still maintains that the mobile-device maker is using too many Apple ideas in its products. But Apple has found something more to beef about.

    In April, Apple flat-out accused Samsung of stealing ideas from the iPad and the iPhone. Apple filed suit in U.S. District Court in Northern California alleging Samsung trespassed on its patents and its trademark with the Galaxy product line, which includes the Galaxy S smartphone and the Galaxy Tab tablet. Both are Android devices.

    "In today's market, it's not enough to build a great phone. You need the right patents to build a great phone as well. The patent process is becoming a very important part of the procedure," said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Gartner. "One of the ironies if the whole 'Android is free' concept is that while users don't have to pay Google anything, for example, they have to pay Microsoft. So consider this just another front being front being fought on the mobile wars."

    A Multi-Headed Gorilla

    Apple has also been on the other side of the suit. In March, Nokia alleged Apple was infringing on additional Nokia patents in virtually all its mobile phones, portable music players, tablets and computers. The move came as Apple's iPhone continues to gain market share. Nokia also filed a complaint with the ITC.

    The outcome: In June, Apple signed a patent license agreement with Apple for an undisclosed amount that settle all patent litigation between the companies, including the withdrawal by Nokia and Apple of their respective complaints to the US International Trade Commission.

    But Apple, EMC, Ericsson, Microsoft, Sony and Research in Motion are all targeting one common enemy: Google. Despite Google bidding $900 million for Nortel Networks' patent portfolio, a consortium that included those mobile handset leaders scooped up more than 6,000 patents and patent applications spanning wireless, wireless 4G, data networking, optical, voice, Internet, service provider and semiconductors for $4.5 billion.

     

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