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# USPTO Approves Apple’s Patent for Cell Phone Parental Controls
- URL: https://broadbandbreakfast.com/uspto-approves-apples-patent-for-cell-phone-parental-controls/
- Published: 2010-10-16T21:44:18.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-11T06:35:05.000Z
- Description: The United States Patent and Trademark Office has approved a patent application from Apple that would “prevent users from sending or receiving ‘objectionable’ content,” reports the New York Daily News.
- Author: Broadband Breakfast
- Tags: Intellectual Property, Patents, Apple, New York Daily News, United States Patent and Trademark Office, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-02-01 10:23, #added-preview-divider

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/97/29976d9d-89ea-4c77-8c0b-0e8a0eafed35/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/apple_patent_app.jpg "Apple_Patent_App")](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/97/29976d9d-89ea-4c77-8c0b-0e8a0eafed35/content/images/broadbandbreakfast.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/apple%5Fpatent%5Fapp.jpg?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has approved a [patent application from Apple](http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=xCfIAAAAEBAJ&ref=broadbandbreakfast.com) that would “prevent users from sending or receiving ‘objectionable’ content,” reports the [*New York Daily News*](http://www.nydailynews.com/tech%5Fguide/2010/10/15/2010-10-15%5Fapples%5Fantisexting%5Fpatent%5Fapproved.html?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com).

The patent is entitled “Text-based communication control for personal communication device.”

Though the *Daily News* characterizes the patent as an “anti-sexting” patent, the application makes it clear that the controls will block or erase only “forbidden” text, rather than images.

The term “sexting” also refers to the phenomenon of people, usually teens, sending nude pictures of themselves to each other. Various [phone companies already offer parental controls](http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/04/sexting-texting-teens-need-parental-controls/?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com).