Apple now gets the virtual 'page turn' patent New Delhi: Apple, which was recently granted the design patent on 'rectangular shape with rounded edges', has now been given the exclusive rights to the page turn in an e-reader app (electronic page turning), reports The New York Times. And, it's obviously off-the-wall.

Approved by the United States Patent Office, the patent D670,713 comes with three illustrations to make it clear that how the page-turn algorithm works. Reportedly, the page-turn patent was filed by Apple in December 2011, but it was approved this week.

It does not mean that Apple owns the page turn now. It is not a narrow patent; there are certain limitations on what it covers and how the patent could be used against the competition.

It looks a little outlandish, but this has not happened for the first time. Apple has already been given some bizarre patents in recent years. Of late, Apple, which has been seen accusing Samsung of copying the entire design and user experience of Apple's iPhone and iPad, was granted the design patent on rectangular shape with rounded edges. The US Patent and Trademark Office issued patent no. D670,286 to Apple that covers the outer edge shape of a device. ...more    
02:37 PM, Nov 19, 2012