Qualcomm filed a complaint against Chinese device maker Meizu, having failed to negotiate a patent licensing deal without court intervention.

The US tech giant asked the Beijing Intellectual Property Court to rule that a licence offered complies with China’s Anti-Monopoly Law, and Qualcomm’s fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory obligations.

It also seeks a ruling the offered terms should form the basis for a patent licence with Meizu for use of Qualcomm’s technology in 3G and 4G devices.

In a statement, Qualcomm said that it has “negotiated extensively and in good faith with Meizu”, to sign a deal that was in line with a “rectification plan” agreed by Qualcomm and the National Development and Reform Commission of China.

It said that while Meizu would not agree, “more than 100 other companies have already accepted the rectification plan terms, including the largest Chinese mobile device suppliers”.

“Meizu is choosing to use these technologies without a license, which is not only unlawful, but is unfair to other licensees that are acting in good faith and respectful of patent rights, and ultimately damaging to the mobile ecosystem and consumers,” said Don Rosenberg, EVP and general counsel of Qualcomm.

Qualcomm agreed a settlement with NDRC last year, after a long-running (and expensive) spat about its licensing practices and charges. The company has, at several points, said that uncertainty was tainting its business in the country.

But the US technology company has also trumpeted some high-profile wins, including Xiaomi, TCL (Alcatel) and ZTE.