WASHINGTON • US Senator Marco Rubio has filed legislation that would prevent Huawei Technologies from seeking damages in US patent courts, after the Chinese firm demanded that Verizon Communications pay US$1 billion (S$1.37 billion) to license the rights to patented technology.

Under the amendment, companies on certain US government watch lists, which would include Huawei, would not be allowed to seek relief under US law with respect to US patents, including bringing legal action over patent infringement.

Last Wednesday, a person briefed on the matter said Huawei had told Verizon that it should pay licensing fees for more than 230 of the Chinese telecommunication equipment maker's patents and in aggregate is seeking more than US$1 billion. It appeared to be a new strategy in Huawei's ongoing battle with the US government.

National security experts worry that "back doors" in routers, switches and other Huawei equipment could allow China to spy on US communications. Huawei has denied that it would help China spy.

Mr Rubio, one of the Republican Party's leading foreign policy voices, filed the measure as an amendment to the annual National Defence Authorisation Act, or NDAA, a massive Bill setting policy for spending by the US Department of Defence.

While the measure is several steps from becoming law, lawmakers have successfully used the NDAA in past years to crack down on the Chinese firm.