Apple Loses Bid To Patent Selective Parallax Display Tech In Korea

(Figures from U.S. Patent No. 11,314,383, "Stacked Media Elements with Selective Parallax Effects," Owned by Apple (Source: USPTO))

Apple has failed to secure a Korean patent for its selective parallax effect display technology after the country's patent tribunal upheld a prior rejection by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO).

In a decision issued on April 3, 2025, the Korean Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (IPTAB) rejected Apple's appeal of KIPO's refusal to grant the application titled "Stacked Media Elements With Selective Parallax Effect" (App. No. 10-2022-0142968). The Cupertino-based company still has the option to appeal the decision to the Patent Court of Korea, located in Daejeon.

The invention describes a method of rendering immersive content on digital displays by applying parallax effects to stacked layers of visual media elements—such as images, text, or video. The technology works by shifting selected layers at varying offsets and directions to create a sense of depth, distinguishing it from conventional static media compositions. The system also enables selective application of parallax effects and includes transparency controls for video elements, allowing for more dynamic visual combinations.

A related patent in the same family—also titled "Stacked Media Elements With Selective Parallax Effect"—was granted in Korea in October 2022 under Reg. No. KR2463063. Apple has also filed two U.S. patents with the same title: one was granted as U.S. Patent No. 11,314,383, while the other (App. No. 17/660,593) remains pending before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

By PatenTrip