­Motorola has sued Apple for allegedly violating 18 patents relating to wireless email, antenna design and other technologies used in the company’s iPhone and iPod touch devices. Motorola filed the complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and US district courts in Florida and Illinois claims that Motorola engaged in lengthy negotiations with Apple but was forced to file a lawsuit after Apple refused to pay licensing fees for the relevant technologies.

Motorola Mobility has requested that the ITC begin an investigation into Apple’s use of Motorola’s patents and, among other things, issue an Exclusion Order barring Apple’s importation of infringing products, prohibiting further sales of violating products that have already been imported, and halting the marketing, advertising, demonstration and warehousing of inventory for distribution and use of such imported products in the United States.

In the District Court actions, Motorola Mobility has requested that Apple cease using Motorola’s patented technology and provides compensation for Apple’s past infringement.

According to 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. The company has extensively licensed the industry-leading intellectual property portfolio, consisting of tens of thousands of patents in the U.S. and worldwide. After Apple’s late entry into the telecommunications market, the company engaged in lengthy negotiations, but Apple has refused to take a license. Motorola had no choice but to file these complaints to halt Apple’s continued infringement. Motorola will continue to take all necessary steps to protect its R&D and intellectual property, which are critical to the company’s business.