A technology consisting of “a purchasing interface within an application that allows users to purchase a product from another source without leaving the application” has been filed with the USPTO by Apple for patent protection.

Needless to say that, if granted, all other app stores will be using Apple’s patent of purchasing content while using an app from an outside store as though it were from within the application itself. Initially filed on April 26, 2010, the patent application might or might not suffer any changes but if granted, Google, Microsoft, Amazon and the others currently using, or preparing to implement in-app purchasing in the future, will have to either stop using it or license the usage.

Source: USPTO

Via: Electronista