The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple's request last week for trademarks on the minimalist design and layout of its retail outlets, the office's records show.
The description of the trademarks includes "a clear glass storefront surrounded by a paneled facade" and, within the store, an "oblong table with stools...set below video screens flush mounted on the back wall."
— reuters.com
1 Comment
Ugh. Trademarking space does not seem like a great idea. The infringing stores were using Apple's logo and graphics everywhere, weren't they? Surely that was the problem. Isn't trademarking an architectural design similar to trademarking, say, medical advice? I.e. doesn't this hint at severe limits in the future on what architects can provide for their clients?