According to recent reports, Motorola has taken legal action against Apple.

Motorola sued Apple for allegedly breaching 18 of its patents linking to antenna design, wireless email and other technologies utilized in the company's iPhone and iPod touch gadgets.

The charge, lodged with the International Trade Commission and US district courts in Florida and Illinois, said that Motorola engaged in long discussions with the iPhone manufacturer but was impelled to register a case after Apple denied to give licensing charges for the related technologies.

Yesterday's proceedings came amid an outbreak of lawful actions among smartphone manufacturers over alleged patent violations.

During the last week, Microsoft took legal action against Motorola, whereas Nokia and Apple both have court cases pending against one another.

In a declaration, Kirk Dailey, corporate vice president of intellectual property at Motorola Mobility, "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."

Apple is also questing for lawsuit against Taiwanese phone maker HTC. (With Inputs from Agencies)