You know that signature look and feel of the Apple Store? Well, the interior as well as exterior designs of the hugely lucrative retail monstrosity is finally the trademarked property of Apple.
Although the news is just coming to light now, Apple secured the legal trademark to the general designs associated with the Apple Store several days ago.
According to a report late Tuesday from Reuters, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple’s request last week for trademarks.
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.”
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. The store looked so authentic, even the upbeat salespeople thought they were working for Apple. Chinese authorities quickly ordered the store to close, as well as more than 20 others that were selling Apple products, but were not authorized to do so.
Apple has reportedly been pursuing trademark protection for the now-iconic Apple store design for close to two years.
