We have to point out, too, that this patent app is old news – it was filed back in 2010.
But the patent app doesn't stop there – it goes after anything that issues a command on pulling down a menu.
Specifically, the patent app (unearthed by Appleinsider this week) describes something of a "WYSIWYG" (What you see is what you get) system for app building, stating the need to make app building more broadly accessible.
It's a handy and noteworthy wrinkle in the patent app, since it could also make it possible to essentially set up a specific security profile required in professions where on-site security of data and mobile devices is paramount.
And if you're wondering why there's been so much interest in this one patent app, when every tech company under the sun has stockpiles of patents at their disposal, it comes down to the nature of the interaction being published.
Further, other diagrams in the same patent depict apps by established big companies like Ralph Lauren.
The claims come from a Texas-based company called Lodsys, which said it has four patents relating to in-app purchases, interactive online ads, online help and subscription renewals.
"The campaign was executed using Influential's industry-leading enterprise technology, which allowed influencers to be push notified about the campaign and participate seamlessly through Influential's patent-pending app," said Influential CEO Ryan Detert.
Lodsys says that Apple has licensed the patent covering in-app purchasing – but adds that it can still claim for payments that use the technology in developers' own apps.
To the left, a recent diagram included in a travel app patent filed by Apple.
Basically, Twitter is saying it's not going to go after companies that are using pull to refresh, or other parts of Brichter's patent, within their app.
