HTC sues Apple -- with Google's patents

Bloomberg reports that HTC has filed new infringement claims against Apple. Oh well, another day, another patent lawsuit, right? Except this one has a big twist: HTC is suing Apple with Google's patents.

"The nine patents originated with Palm Inc., Motorola Inc. and Openwave Systems Inc., with Google taking ownership within the past year, according to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records," Bloomberg reports. The new infringement lawsuit has been filed in Delaware, with HTC alleging Apple's infringement of four patents originally issued to Motorola.

Many have seen Apple's patent suits against various handset makers as a proxy war against Google and its Android operating system. This latest move by HTC certainly adds credence to that characterisation of events, and it also brings to mind a question: how long before these Cold War shenanigans move aside for the main event, Apple v. Google? Since it appears Google is taking a proactive stance in the patent suits without actually initiating lawsuits itself, that might be happening sooner rather than later.