Apple on Tuesday asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to block the importation into the country of HTC’s Google Android-based mobile phones, including the Google-branded Nexus One.

Apple asked the court for “a permanent exclusion order” that would bar from entry “all mobile communications devices and components” made by HTC that carry the offending technologies, according to court documents.

Apple on Tuesday sued HTC for alleged, multiple patent violations, claiming the Taiwan-based manufacturer’s products infringe on its iPhone technology. Apple filed the actions with the ITC and the U.S. District Court for Delaware.

In the ITC filing, Apple says 11 HTC phones violate its patents, including the Nexus One, Touch Pro, Touch Diamond, Pure, Imagio, and myTouch 3G. Apple claims HTC infringed on a total of 20 patents governing a range of technologies.

Apple wants the ITC to block HTC and its partners from “importing, marketing, advertising, demonstrating, warehousing inventory for distribution, distributing, offering for sale” any of the listed phones.

Apple is also seeking unspecified monetary damages in the Delaware court.

“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,” said Apple CEO Steve Jobs, in a statement. “We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own technology, not steal ours,” said Jobs.

Patent suits are not uncommon in the ultra-competitive tech industry, but vendors generally take a low-key approach and let court documents speak for themselves. That Apple issued a press release featuring its high-profile CEO indicates the company views HTC’s alleged infringements as a serious competitive threat.

“Apple has been and continues to be damaged by defendants’ infringement,” Apple said in its filing with the Delaware court. HTC has yet to file a formal response to the allegations.

SHANGHAI : The unveiling of Apples iPad tablet computer was one of the most anticipated technology events in recent years, but a similar looking device has been on sale in China for nearly six months.

The touchscreen iPad look-alike marks a new milestone by Chinese manufacturers: cloning a product before it had even been announced, mused Shanghaiist.com, a city blog, and Shanzhai.com, a tech blog dedicated to Chinese copies.

But Shenzhen Great Loong Brother Industrial Co makers of the Chinese device, which resembles an over-sized iPhone said Apple appeared to be the copycats.

We dont understand. Why did they make the same thing as us said Huang Xiaofang, an executive at the company.

The iPad-like P88 was launched in August and was on show last year at the Internationale Funkausstellung consumer electronics fair in Berlin, she said. We launched it earlier.

Although thicker and heavier than the iPad, the P88s specifications boasts a slightly larger screen, faster processor, larger memory and, unlike the iPad, has USB ports, according to the manufacturer.

But its battery life is only 1.5 hours compared to the iPads 10 hours. Apples first iPads will ship worldwide at an entry-level price of $499 (Rs 23,000 approx) in two months. But for gadget fanatics who cannot wait, Huang said the P88 is available now on Great Loong Brothers Web site.