Google has apparently stepped in directly to an Android patent battle, with HTC using nine patents acquired from the company to sue Apple.
HTC filed a new lawsuit and a complaint with the US International Trade Commission, and amended an existing ITC complaint, based on patents it obtained from Google last week, Bloombergreported.
HTC claims that the iPhone, iPod, iPad, Mac computers, iCloud and iTunes all infringe. The patents cover areas including wireless software upgrading and methods to store user preferences.
Google itself had acquired the patents less than a year ago. Four had been originally owned by Motorola, three from Openwave and two from Palm.
HTC's action is the latest in a series of volleys fired in a legal battle between the company and Apple.
Apple first filed an ITC suit against HTC in March 2010, and won a preliminary victory in the case in July this year. The company also made another complaint against HTC that same month. HTC filed its aforementioned countersuit in May last year.
Google is in the process of acquiring Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, in a deal that is believed to be largely about acquiring a patent horde to defend Android.