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Apple nabs 18 patents related to 'axis-based user interface technology'

The companies didn't announce the transaction until yesterday, despite it taking place in the third quarter of 2012.

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Don Reisinger
Former CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
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Don Reisinger

Apple has acquired 18 patents related to "axis-based user interface technology," the intellectual property's former owner Maya-Systems announced yesterday.

According to Maya-Systems, which developers content-management technologies, the companies signed the deal in the third quarter of 2012. Apple acquired only a portion of the company's axis-based user interface technology.

Maya-Systems' axis-based technologies allows developers to group files around a given axis. In some cases, that can mean timelines. The technology is available in the company's IAmOrganized program, which provides file management and cloud storage.

That cloud-storage element is making some folks across the Web speculate that Apple might be working on cloud-based projects, and will incorporate Maya-Systems' technologies into its online products, like iCloud.

Maya-Systems did not disclose financial details of its deal with Apple.

CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the patent purchases. We will update this story when we have more information.

(Via Macrumors)