Last week, Apple filed a lawsuit against HTC, the Taiwan-based manufacturer of smartphones, alleging that the Google Nexus One, made by HTC, has infringed some patents of the iPhone maker.

The lawsuit has come after Apple got entangled in a similar battle with Nokia, and has managed to throw new light on the growing role of patents and battles over them, and the way in which companies are now using them against competitors in the fiercely competitive mobile phone market.

Experts, it seems, are unclear about the exact intention Apple has in suing HTC, but some say that it is a clear indication that the company wants to bring all rivals, trying to compete with its iPhone, down.

"I'm seeing more, larger patent cases in the last couple years. It does appear that companies that were more hesitant to file lawsuits in the past are filing today", said Paul Andre, a partner with law firm King & Spaulding.