Apple Awarded Design Patent For Slide-to-Unlock UI

Also wins design patent for the original iPhone.

Apple has been awarded the design patent for iOS' slide-to-unlock user interface, as well as the design for the original iPhone.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved Apple's No. D675,639 patent for "ornamental design for a display screen or portion thereof with a graphical user interface." Apple was granted a patent for the feature itself in 2011.

Apple also received approval for design patent No. D675,612, which relates to the "ornamental design of an electronic device." Specifically, it relates to the rounded corners situated on the iPhone.

Meanwhile, during December 2012, Apple won a design patent for the iPhone 4.

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There are 37 Comments.

Top Comments

30

Shin-san , February 7, 2013 5:34 AM

I can't believe that "rounded corners" got a patent
27

delazaren , February 7, 2013 5:39 AM

I wonder who has a patent for entering a word that gives you access to a system.
I also wonder who has a patent of having text appearing on a screen when keys are pressed on a keyboard.
I also wonder....
29

holdingholder , February 7, 2013 5:39 AM

2 things that damn near every freaking smartphone/tablet has already and is pretty much a basic feature that requires no ingenuity. What an absolute joke.
17

twelch82 , February 7, 2013 5:42 AM

Rounded corners is a safety/comfort feature moreso than a design feature. No rough edges to poke yourself with.

...More fuel for Apple to continue their patent war with.
20

bisso , February 7, 2013 5:43 AM

This is insane! Will anyone be able stop that US patent office once and for all? If this is what people do with patents these days, better just close the office now. Also, the slide to unlock have been around as a physical button years before iPod or Iphone were even on paper.
26

anonymous@guest , February 7, 2013 5:44 AM

Anyone ever feel like Apple is your rich friend whose parents give them everything they want because they are a spoiled brat? We all have this friend and we all hate them we can only one day hope they get hit by a bus.
26

thechaver , February 7, 2013 5:54 AM

The patent office is getting paid very well my friends.
16

halcyon , February 7, 2013 6:05 AM

Ridiculous. No hate but this just seems ridiculous.
10

stickmansam , February 7, 2013 6:05 AM

I thought they already had the rounded corner patent...... how did they ever get that one approved...

Other Comments

30

Shin-san , February 7, 2013 5:34 AM

I can't believe that "rounded corners" got a patent
29

holdingholder , February 7, 2013 5:39 AM

2 things that damn near every freaking smartphone/tablet has already and is pretty much a basic feature that requires no ingenuity. What an absolute joke.
27

delazaren , February 7, 2013 5:39 AM

I wonder who has a patent for entering a word that gives you access to a system.
I also wonder who has a patent of having text appearing on a screen when keys are pressed on a keyboard.
I also wonder....

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