U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has agreed to review Apple’s allegations of patent violations by HTC.  Apple has sought to ban the importation and sale of HTC handsets, which include a number of devices powered by Google Android mobile operating system. HTC formally responsed to the suit last week when the company said it has no plans to back down as a result of Apple’s legal threat.  Google, the creator of Android mobile operating system, thwhich is the center of the patent infringment suit, has also said it will stand by its partners, including HTC.

Apple’s law suit is largely believed to an indirect shot at Google, which is a close partner with HTC in making the Nexus One and myTouch  3G, two phones specifically cited in Apple’s complaint.

The legal battle began in Early March, when Apple filed its complaint against HTC, suing the Taiwanese smartphone maker over the alleged patent infringement of 20 patents related to the iPhone.

However, according to HTC’s Chief Executive, the suit from Apple has not affected its operation.