Chinese Smartphone Makers Seek Patents as Ammunition

China’s smartphone makers increasingly are turning to patents as ammunition as they try to reel in global leaders Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Chinese technology giants from Huawei Technologies Co. to ZTE Corp. and Lenovo Group Ltd. are acquiring patents through licensing deals, acquisitions and hefty spending on research and development -- moves that could signal more legal challenges for Apple and Samsung not just in China, but overseas as well.