Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) recently trademarked their retail store design with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The company’s signature retail design features a clear glass storefront with a glass rectangular paneled facade on top of the glass front and two narrow panels that are stacked on both sides of the storefront. Inside the cover mark there is rectangular recessed lighting which traverses the length of the ceiling of the store. The shelves are underneath recessed displays on the side walls. There are also rectangular tables that are arranged in a line in the middle of the store that’s paralleled to the walls. The walls, lighting, fixtures, and floor aren’t part of the covered mark.
Last March,the Cupertino-based company received an award for design patent for the Shanghai retail store. This particular store is just a few steps away from the Pearl Tower. It features a cylindrical glass tower which has a glowing white Apple logo inside. It looks similar to the glass cube at the Apple retail store on Fifth Avenue.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is known for their beautifully designed products and so it makes sense that their retail stores reflect that design aesthetic which is sleek and modern. Back in 2011, Microsoft got their store design trademarked. Their retail stores are a little similar to Apple’s design although there are some distinct differences. Architectural design can be considered as intellectual property. Both tech retail stores utilize aesthetic influences and style elements to maximize profits and increase interest in their products.
Several years ago, Apple’s retail store design was blatantly copied for the fake Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) stores which popped up throughout China. These stores sold bootleg products and created an eerily similar “store” by ripping off open floors, glass walls, and overall minimalist design. This is primarily why Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) got a trademark for their retail store design.
