HTC Issues Response To Apple Patent Action

andset maker HTC says it's ready to defend itself against a patent complaint filed by Apple.

Earlier this month, Apple launched legal action against HTC, alleging that the Taiwanese company had violated 20 different patents related to the Apple iPhone. HTC makes phones based on Google's Android operating system as well as Microsoft's Windows Mobile.

On Thursday, HTC issued its response.

"HTC disagrees with Apple's actions and will fully defend itself. HTC strongly advocates intellectual property protection and will continue to respect other innovators and their technologies as we have always done," said HTC Chief Executive Officer Peter Chou in a statement, "but we will continue to embrace competition through our own innovation as a healthy way for consumers to get the best mobile experience possible."