Microsoft has filed for a patent that could create problems for Apple's iBooks and other e-reader apps.
The technique for a "virtual page turn" would use the same design as Apple's, where readers can turn the page naturally
by touching and dragging from one side of an e-book and curling the page to the other side.
It would render the page in 3D and even render the back of a page while in mid-turn.

The patent's unique contribution would be quick flip
gestures, which with a flip or a downward swipe could jump at least two pages ahead.

US Patent and Trademark Office officials first received the patent in January 2009, a year before the iPad was unveiled,
and was clearly targeted at use for the Courier with images of the concept used as examples.
While Microsoft killed the Courier before it left the concept phase, the patent could theoretically let Microsoft ask for royalties
from Apple, who uses a similar effect in iBooks on the iPad and iPhone, as well as the creators of third-party
iOS apps like Classics and Stanza.