Apple is suing HTC

Files lawsuit for infringing on 20 patents related to iPhone's 'user interface, underlying architecture and hardware'.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs was withering in his assessment. he said: "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.

The lawsuit reflects the intense competition in the smartphone space, a sector blown wide open by the iPhone, which has sold over 40 million.

HTC has been a major beneficiary of Apple's rise, developing touchscreens based on Windows and Android that are widely regarded as the closest competition to the iPhone itself.

The company has responded with an official statement, in which it confirms that it only found out about Apple's lawsuit from media reports. Ouch.

"HTC is a mobile technology innovator and patent holder that has been very focused over the past 13 years on creating many of the most innovative smartphones. HTC values patent rights and their enforcement but is also committed to defending its own technology innovations. HTC only learned of Apple’s actions this morning via media reports, and therefore we have not yet had the opportunity to investigate the filings. Until we have had this opportunity, we are unable to comment on the validity of the claims being made against HTC."