Samsung Electronics has sued Huawei Technologies for patent infringements through multiple courts in China, escalating a legal conflict between the world’s No 1 and No 3 smartphone makers. Samsung accuses Huawei of infringing six of its patents. “Despite our best efforts to resolve this matter amicably, it has regrettably become necessary to take legal action in order to defend our intellectual property,” Samsung said in a statement. Samsung also sued a department store in Beijing and claimed CNY161 million in damages. Samsung asked the two defendants to stop production and sales of products infringing its patents, including Huawei’s Mate 8 and Honor smartphones. “In the absence of a negotiated settlement, litigation is often an efficient way to resolve” intellectual property rights disputes, Huawei said. Huawei sued Samsung in the United States and China in May, accusing its rival of infringement of patents for 4G cellular communications technology, operating systems and user interface software.