A few weeks after Apple was granted a European trademark on the key design elements of its retail stores, the company has been awarded a U.S. patent on the iconic glass cube design of its Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan. Steve Jobs is one of those credited as an inventor.
Patently Apple reports that Apple also applied for a trademark for the design back in 2010, but no decision has yet been made on that.
Apple was granted a patent for the similarly iconic glass cylinder design for its Shanghai store back in 2012.
Apple has been renewing the interior design of its stores around the world, and creating a new organizational structure as Angela Ahrendts focuses on further international expansion. It is reportedly working on the largest Apple Store in the world in Dubai.
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I believe the Apple Store in UAE won’t be in Dubai, but in Abu Dhabi… As Apple posted several job vacancies in Abu Dhabi, not Dubai :)
http://9to5mac.com/2014/08/20/that-apple-store-in-the-united-arab-emirates-could-be-the-worlds-largest/
And some anti-Apple trolls would spread FUD along the lines of “cubes cannot be patented.”
Great point. I’ll add: If Apple can patent the shape and design of a building, then why can’t they patent the ’rounded corners’ shape of a device they’ve sold millions of that was blatantly copied.
Maybe Rubic and others who have used cubes or boxes in their work should contest this.
It’s as ridiculous as trying to patent a number.
We know Apple is not the first to use square glass boxes in architecture.
Again, the cult of Jobs trumps common sense.
It’d really be great if Apple would refurbish it’s two stores here in the Raleigh Durham area. They are old, outdated and grossly overcrowded to shop in. So much so, I hate to go in even just to browse now. They are packed and the staff is overwhelmed. And ugly. Even off Holiday.