The latest mobile industry legal action sees Motorola taking legal action against Apple. It follows Microsoft's recent complaints about the Android operating system in Motorola devices.

Rather like Nokia's complaints against Apple, Motorola points out it's been in the mobile business for quite a while and says Apple has refused to license its technology.

It's Motorola subsidiary Motorola Mobility that's doing the complaining, filing a patent infringement complaint with the US International Trade Commission and also filing similar complaints against Apple in the Northern District of Illinois and the Southern District of Florida. The three complaints include 18 patents, which feature wireless communication technologies, antenna design and other smartphone technology. It says the Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and some Mac computers are all involved.

Kirk Dailey, corporate vice president of intellectual property at Motorola Mobility, said "Motorola has innovated and patented throughout every cycle of the telecommunications industry evolution, from Motorola's invention of the cell phone to its development of premier smartphone products. We have extensively licensed our industry-leading intellectual property portfolio, consisting of tens of thousands of patents in the US and worldwide. After Apple's late entry into the telecommunications market, we engaged in lengthy negotiations, but Apple has refused to take a license. We had no choice but to file these complaints to halt Apple's continued infringement. Motorola will continue to take all necessary steps to protect its R&D and intellectual property, which are critical to the company's business."