HTC says its confident it can defend Apple's patent lawsuit

Mobile phone developer HTC has responded to a lawsuit recently issued by Apple over allegations of infringing 20 hardware and software patents for its touchscreen smartphones using Google software.

After investigating the claims it says it's confident it will be able to defend itself and would use every means possible to fight off the suit.

Although HTC has declined to reveal in detail how it will make a stand against the claims and has promised to issue a formal response in the next few weeks it has said it "strongly disagrees with Apple's actions". Jason Mackenzie, vice president for HTC's U.S business, added: "We plan to use all the legal tools we have at our disposal to both defend ourselves and set the record straight."

Despite not using Google's name as a defendant it has been suggested Apple is using these patent allegations as an indirect lawsuit towards Google. Unfortunately, if this is the case, HTC has been tangled up in the proceedings, possible as a proxy.

Apple is seeking to prohibit HTC from selling, marketing or distributing alleged infringing products in the United States. If it is successful with its lawsuit this could have an impact on sales of HTC smartphones which run on Google's Android mobile software, including the Nexus One, HTC Hero, HTC Dream and myTouch.

HTC's chief executive Peter Chou has released a statement supporting the product innovations highlighted by Apple as infringing copyright. Chou said: "From day one, HTC has focused on creating cutting-edge innovations that deliver unique value for people looking for a smartphone. In 1999 we started designing the XDA and T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition, our first touch-screen smartphones, and they both shipped in 2002 with more than 50 additional HTC smartphone models shipping since then."

Although Apple had not made an official statement on the lawsuit, chief executive Steve Jobs has reported to have commented in a news release: "competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."