Microsoft’s page curl patent supposed to hurt iBooks, e-reader applications

14th July, 2010 by adina
Tags: Apple, e-Reader, iBook, Microsoft, USA

A patent has been recently filed by Microsoft and is supposed to cause problems for e-reader applications and Apple’s iBooks especially. The patent refers to the “virtual page return” allowing readers to turn pages in a natural way, by touching one side of the e-book and dragging it so that the page curls to the opposite side. The page is rendered in 3D and even a back of a page is rendered while in mid-turn. The design is similar to that used by Apple. The unique contribution of the patent would consist of quick flip gestures allowing jumping two or more pages ahead by simple flipping or swiping downwards.

Officials from United States Patent and Trademark Office received the patent in January last year, a year before Apple unveiled the iPad, has been clearly targeted at using the Courier and contained images of the described concept as examples. Microsoft has killed the Courier tablet while in concept phase, but the patent would theoretically allow Microsoft to demand royalties from other companies like Apple, which is using a similar effect on the iPhone and iPad in iBooks. Other creators of third-party iOS applications like Classics and Stanza are also subject to pay such royalties.

However, Microsoft does not have any known project in development to prove it uses the page curl and therefore may have trouble demonstrating its patent is used.

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