Chinese Firms put Intellectual Property Lawsuits to Work

US companies have long accused the Chinese of stealing their intellectual property. But now some in China are pointing the finger back. In recent months, Apple has been slapped with lawsuits in China alleging that the most valuable company in US history is infringing on patents and trademarks with a range of its products, from the iPhone voice assistant Siri to the Snow Leopard operating system.

The lawsuits being filed in Chinese courts are evidence of a growing awareness in this country that intellectual property can be a valuable tool-for protecting ideas and for squeezing money out of other companies, too. Analysts say foreign firms can expect to see many more lawsuits coming from China, turning the country into a new front in the global patent wars.