Electronics · Amazon Best-Sellers
Is the iPad Patented?
Yes. Apple holds hundreds of utility and design patents covering the iPad — most famously the rectangle-with-rounded-corners design patent US D670,286 (the one that became a meme during the Samsung trial).
Quick answer
Yes — hundreds of patents
Yes. Apple holds hundreds of utility and design patents covering the iPad — most famously the rectangle-with-rounded-corners design patent US D670,286 (the one that became a meme during the Samsung trial).
Key patents on the Apple iPad Pro M4
Every patent number below is a live USPTO record — click through to read the original claims on Google Patents.
- US D670,286 (2012) — Ornamental design for the iPad (rectangle with rounded corners). Status: active.
- US 7,479,949 (2009) — Touch-screen device, method, and graphical user interface (the "Steve Jobs patent"). Status: expired / public domain.
What to know
- The "rounded rectangle" design patent really exists — it was central to the Apple v. Samsung verdict.
- The famous "Steve Jobs" multi-touch patent (US 7,479,949) expired in 2024; bounce-back scrolling is now public domain.
Have your own invention idea?
If a product like Apple iPad Pro M4can get patent protection, your idea probably can too — assuming it’s novel. The cheapest first step is a provisional patent application, which locks in your priority date for 12 months while you validate the market. LegalZoom files provisionals from $199 + USPTO fees; you can also read the official USPTO patent basics first if you prefer.
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