Apple has filed a patent for In Application Purchasing which allows developers to allow users to purchase upgrade packs within the app. If the patent is successful, Apple can use this against Google and Microsoft.
The patent is called In Application Purchasing, which we’re introduced on iOS 3 for iPhone 3GS. The feature is still being used today on all iDevices running iOS 3 or above. It allows users to download unlockables, map packs, upgrades and more from within the app.
Apple originally filed the patent in April 2010, but has only emerged today on the US Patent & Trademark Office.
The US Patent & Trademark Office said:
The present technology provides a purchasing interface within an application that allows users to purchase a product from another source without leaving the application. The application offers a product for purchase, and a user, desiring to purchase the product can provide an input effective to cause a purchasing interface to be displayed. While the purchasing interface, or information presented therein, comes from the product source, which is different than the application source, it is presented in such a fashion that gives the impression to the user that they are purchasing the product directly from the application.
If the patent is granted, Apple could use it against it’s competitors such as Microsoft and Google. Which could start another legal battle between the competitors.
What are your thoughts on this? Is it fair for Apple to file a patent on something that is available for more than one product? Leave your thoughts below!
