The US International Trade Commission will investigate HTC's allegations that Apple is infringing its patents. Its answer could see the iPhone banned from American stores, according to "The Register" (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/14/apple_itc/) -- although I personally can't see this happening.

The ITC's investigation is in response to HTC's complaint, filed on May 12, that Apple is in breach of various patents owned by HTC. The company TC Corp. filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) to halt the importation and sale of the iPhone, iPad and iPod in the U.S. HTC says Apple is infringing on five of its patents.

"As the innovator of the original Windows Mobile PocketPC Phone Edition in 2002 and the first Android smartphone in 2008, HTC believes the industry should be driven by healthy competition and innovation that offer consumers the best, most accessible mobile experiences possible,” said Jason Mackenzie, vice president of North America, HTC Corp., in a statement. “We are taking this action against Apple to protect our intellectual property, our industry partners, and most importantly our customers that use HTC phones.”

HTC's action is a move to counter a lawsuit Apple filed in March against HTC for infringing on 20 Apple patents related to the iPhone's user interface, underlying architecture and hardware. The lawsuit was filed concurrently with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in U.S. District Court in Delaware.

As many as 10 of those violations involve the Nexus One, Apple said in a complaint submitted to the ITC. The Delaware lawsuit, however, didn't specify the HTC-made phones that allegedly violated Apple's patents.

-- Dennis Sellers