Apple trademarks design of its retail stores
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People line up to enter a newly-opened Apple Store in Wangfujing shopping district in Beijing. Apple, known for aggressively protecting its iPads and iPhones from copycats, is doing the same for the interior design of its stores. -- PHOTO: AP
(REUTERS) - Apple Inc, known for aggressively protecting its iPads and iPhones from copycats, is doing the same for the interior design of its stores.
The United States (US) 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 panelled facade" and, within the store, an "oblong table with stools... set below video screens flush mounted on the back wall".
Last year, a fake Apple store in Kunming, China featuring the white Apple logo and wooden tables drew widespread attention after a blogger wrote about visiting it.
