Fed up with Apple trying to be the policeman of the tech world? Cash-rich HTC is, and has wacked Apple with its own patent infringement complaint.The smartphone maker filed the complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) and the US District Court of Delaware, alleging patent infringement by Apple’s Mac computer product lines as well Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod product lines.

The patent issues cover a range of functions said to be “essential to [the] user experience,” including Wi-Fi functionality that lets users network multiple devices at home, at work or in public. Another function is processor communication technology that enables the seamless integration of a cellphone and PDA to create a smartphone experience, HTC said.

The action follows an ITC complaint filed recently by Apple alleging infringement of five patents involving such things as user interfaces, motion sensors and touchscreen hardware.

In a separate action started by Apple, an ITC administrative law judge recently upheld two of four patent claims lodged by Apple, but HTC said it was confident the full commission will toss the two complaints when it reviews the decision.

  “We are taking this action against Apple to protect our intellectual property, our industry partners and most importantly our customers that use HTC phones,” said HTC general counsel Grace Lei. “This is the third case before the ITC in which Apple is infringing our intellectual property. Apple needs to stop its infringement of our patented inventions in its products.”