Apple wins latest tussle with HTC

Apple has won the latest round in its bitter legal battle with HTC, the Taiwanese smartphone maker that claims the US giant infringed its patents.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) yesterday rejected HTC's claims that Apple violated patents. HTC had asked the court to ban imports of several Apple products into the US.

The Taiwanese firm and Apple are locked in a long-running dispute. In July, HTC was found to have infringed two iPhone patents in a case brought by Apple at the ITC. It said that despite the judgment, it was sticking to its claims and would take them to an appeals process.

"This is only one step of many in these legal proceedings," HTC said.