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Many factors likely fueled Apple’s lawsuit against mobile handset manufacturer HTC. Patent suits have become a competitive weapon — one that any company dare not allow its rival to use without using it as well. Lawsuits are sometimes filed because a firm believes it’s about to be slapped with one. There’s a case to be made, of course, that HTC has, in fact, infringed on Apple’s intellectual property. The biggest driver, though, is probably Apple’s growing concern about the growing strength in the smartphone market of Google’s Android operating system.

Apple’s Patent Attack: This Too May Be Overhyped

Apple’s share prices have begun climbing back since Feb. 23, closing Tuesday at $208.85. It’s not yet quite clear why — it could be the imminent shipping of the iPod or the shareholders’ meeting Feb. 25, among other things. Still, investors should take what they can get. They’ll have to — Cupertino isn’t about to fork over any dividends soon. The company wants lots of cash on hand for security and so it can make big purchases without having to borrow lots of money, CEO Steve Jobs explained when asked about dividends.

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Of the China Market, Cheaper New iPhones and the iPad

Apple has filed a lawsuit against smartphone manufacturer HTC, alleging that the company has infringed on 20 patents related to the iPhone. The complaint cites Google’s Nexus One, the T-Mobile G1, the Droid Eris, the Touch Diamond, the Touch Pro2, and the Imagio as examples of infringing devices. Apple also filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission seeking to block imports of these products. Apple decided not to sit by and watch competitors steal its patented inventions instead of creating their own original technology, said CEO Steve Jobs.

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Apple Sues HTC for Patent Thievery

I’m still not personally sold on the idea that I need an Apple iPad, but I very much like what I’m seeing in the publishing industry in response to the fledgling product. First, consider the impending dust-up between Conde Nast, Adobe, and Apple. Conde Nast is the publisher of “GQ,” “Vanity Fair,” “The New Yorker,” “Glamour,” and “Wired,” but most importantly, Conde Nast is a respected publisher that’s looking to do something cool, new and proactive for its magazines — create digital versions that push the boundaries of digital magazine delivery.

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The iPad Catalyst Will Light a Lot of Fires

Apple stock closed at $197.05 Tuesday, down $3.37 after a five-day rally that saw it hit $203.08 Friday. However, that slide was part of an overall market phenomenon. On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 100 points and the NASDAQ composite index lost about 29 points as consumer confidence took a tumble. Major retailers indicated that sales growth is lagging, and economic reports remain mixed. The question for Apple investors is, what’s going to happen to Apple’s share prices?

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Apple: Stock in the Clouds, One Toe Still in the Gutter