Nokia could be pursuing legal action against HTC over the design of the recently announced 8X Windows Phone device.

Mobile site GSMArena reports that the Finnish firm may pursue a sales ban on its Taiwanese rival’s handset, with the dispute centred on the front panel design of HTC’s new phone.

Nokia apparently considers the 8X’s front fascia to bear a close resemblance to its own Lumia 820, one of two Windows Phone 8 handsets recently unveiled by the manufacturer. While both the 8X and Nokia Lumia 920 feature 4.3-inch displays, the Nokia has a wider, 68.5mm body than the 66.2mm one of the HTC.

However, the reports have been given more substance after a senior member of Nokia’s staff recently made veiled references to supposed similarities between the handsets. Chris Weber, the firm’s head of marketing, called the HTC devices “rebranded products” in a statement to tech site The Verge.

Weber also made comments via his Twitter account which could be construed as references to HTC’s new devices, saying “It takes more than matching colour to match the innovation of the Lumia 920”.

Both manufacturers have received public support from Microsoft upon the release of their respective Windows Phone 8 handsets. Steve Ballmer, CEO of the software giant, appeared alongside Peter Chou, HTC CEO, at the firm’s launch event last week after having joined Stephen Elop, CEO of Nokia, at the Finnish manufacturer’s unveiling on 5 September.