It is well known that Apple has 'patented' the iPhone for all it's worth, with over 200 patents covering the various technologies used in the making of the little device, in order to ensure that nobody flatters them. But now, Apple is also going for the trademarks of some of the key marketing points of the handheld, such as "Multi-touch."

The multi-touch interface of the iPhone is one of its strongest selling points and a very big part of the marketing that Apple has done for the gadget. While the technology itself has long ago been covered with patents, Apple is also looking to acquire a trademark for the signature interface in order to make sure that nobody else tries to market their own versions as the real deal.

It seems that the Cupertino company has chosen to go outside the United States as a part of this process which it initiated at the same time when the iPhone was hitting the shelves. Apple applied for the trademark in a Far East intellectual property office, but also filed another trademark back home. The U.S. application has a date of June 30, 2007: IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Handheld mobile digital electronic devices with electronic mail, digital data transmission, audio player, video player, handheld computer, personal digital assistant, electronic organizer, electronic notepad, telephone, computer gaming and camera functions and computer software for use with such devices.

The company did its best to protect its iPod and managed to prevent anyone from making too obvious a copy, but with the iPhone Apple is covering any and all bases. It will be very interesting to see if any is actually capable of coming out with a similar device, considering the number of patent that Apple has.