Apple Attempt To Trademark "Distinctive" Apple Store Design

Apple's plan to trademark, patent and legally protect just about every aspect of their business continues apace, with a new application that covers their "distinctive design and layout" of Apple retail stores and a second that throws "steel grey" and "light brown" in as "features of the mark".  To be fair, the company's bricks & mortar locations do generally stand out among the rest of the retail crowd, though we can't imagine rivals would actually manage to con consumers by dressing up their stores to match.

The correspondent listed for is LISA G. WIDUP of APPLE INC., 1 INFINITE LOOP, MS 3TM, CUPERTINO, CA 95014 . The trademark is filed in the category of Advertising, Business & Retail Services . The description provided to the USPTO for is Retail store services featuring computers, computer software, computer peripherals, mobile phones, consumer electronics and related accessories, and demonstration of products relating thereto.

Retail store services featuring computers, computer software, computer peripherals, mobile phones, consumer electronics and related accessories, and demonstration of products relating thereto

Mark Description: The mark consists of distinctive design and layout of a retail store.

Still, Apple obviously reckons they've something special to protect.  If you were thinking of investing in a broad glass entrance, plenty of pale wood tables and row upon row of lined-up hardware, it might be an idea to consult a lawyer as well as an interior designer.

Meanwhile, another Apple trademark documents the new iDisk icon, which isn't quite so exciting but is a whole lot more blue.