Apple got an upper-hand in its ongoing legal battle against HTC over patents when the U. S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that HTC violated two patents owned by Cupertino-based gadget maker.

In March last year, Apple filed a complaint with the ITC, accusing HTC of copying its products like the iPhone by violating its ten patents.

According to the ITC administrative law judge's initial determination, HTC violated two of those ten patents.

HTC said that they would vigorously fight the two remaining patents by making an appeal before the ITC commissioners who is yet to make the final decision.

Speaking on the ruling, HTC’s general counsel Grace Lei said, "This is only one step of many in these legal proceedings."

On the other hand, an Apple representative said the company is not afraid of competition in the market, but the competition should be healthy, and competitors should create their own original technology, rather than stealing Apple’s.

The ITC has the power to ban products from coming into the U. S. if it finds them violating patents owned by others.