In the patent infringement lawsuit game I’m sure you know how it works, someone sues someone, that someone counter sues and so on, basically dragging it out so each others lawyers make a wad of cash. Patent infringement seems to have become a big thing in the mobile space recently with virtually everyone suing everyone else at some point or another.

Thus the latest in the Apple verses HTC patent dispute takes another turn, with the guys over at Bloomberg reporting that HTC has now sued Apple using nine patents they recently acquired from Google.

Apparently Google came into possession of the patent a while ago and are four from Motorola, two from Palm, and three from Openwave, however Google has not commented on the reasons for the patent transfer to HTC.

As a result of obtaining the nine patents from Google on the 1st of September, HTC has now filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission claiming that Apple infringes on the nine patents.

According to the article, Munich based consultant and intellectual property activist, Florian Mueller says, “Google knows that HTC is under tremendous legal pressure from Apple and clearly on the losing track. This intervention on Google’s part increases the likelihood of direct litigation by Apple against Google.”

Thus is seems that Google has now taken the step to support their Android partners when it comes to patent infringement, which could mean that although Google hasn’t sued Apple directly perhaps Apple will sue Google in retaliation.

Whatever happens, one thing is for sure, it seems that the mobile space is all about patent ownership and lawsuits rather than delivering great devices, something that really need to change, and these companies should sit down and come to some kind of agreement rather than dragging it through the courts and trying to get each others products banned.