It seems that Apple is so terrified that HTC tablets will give its keyboardless netbook a caning that it is trying to get an import restriction imposed against the company.
Apple claims HTC is infringing five patents related to software architecture and user interfaces in portable electronic devices, hardware for touch screens and movement sensors.
This is the second time that Apple has complained about Android-based tablets in the hope that the US International Trade Commission will block imports of the tablets. The second complaint was against Samsung Electronics.
In a statement HTC said it was dismayed that Apple has resorted to competition in the courts rather than the marketplace.
HTC denies all of Apple's past and present claims against it and will continue to protect and defend its own intellectual property as it has already done this year, the outfit said.
In March, HTC released the Flyer which has a 7-inch screen. HTC's second tablet, called EVO View 4G is a little more worrying for Apple because it offers faster connections over Sprint, Nextel's 4G network.
Apple also targets other products which have been a thorn in its side. These include smartphones like the Droid Incredible, Wildfire, EVO 4G and Desire.
It could all go the other way of course. HTC has bought S3 Graphics for $300 million after the maker of video-game graphics chips won an infringement ruling at the trade agency against Apple. HTC also laid a complaint of its own against Apple at the commission, which it will find out about in a couple of months.
A trade commission judge is expected to issue a decision in Apple's earlier case against HTC on August 5.