# How Digital Sticky Notes Work Inside Computer Programs > A 1993 Apple patent for attaching digital sticky notes to documents so they move and behave like regular text or images within an application. - **Patent:** US 5559942 - **Original title:** Method and apparatus for providing a note for an application program - **Owner:** Apple Computer Inc - **Granted:** 1996 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 244 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software ## What it does This patent describes a way to attach a digital note to a specific spot in a document. The note is represented by an 'anchor object' that the application treats just like any other piece of data, such as a paragraph or a photo. Because the anchor is treated as data, you can move, delete, or copy the note along with the text around it. When you interact with the anchor, a separate 'note slip' window appears, allowing you to write notes using a stylus. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover general text annotation tools that are not tied to a specific manipulable anchor object. - Does not cover notes that exist independently of the application data (i.e., screen overlays that don't move with the document). - Does not cover cloud-based collaboration or multi-user commenting systems. - Does not cover voice-based notes or audio attachments. ## The clever bit The innovation lies in treating the note anchor as standard application data rather than a separate layer, allowing the note to 'stick' to the content even when the user edits or reformats the document. ## Real-world examples 1. Comments in Microsoft Word 2. Sticky note features in PDF editors like Adobe Acrobat 3. Annotation tools in tablet-based note-taking apps ## Why it matters This technology was a precursor to the modern digital annotation features found in everything from PDF readers to word processors. It solved the problem of how to keep comments tethered to specific document locations even when the document structure changes. It reflects the early 1990s push by Apple to make pen-based computing feel as natural as using paper and pen. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How Digital Sticky Notes Work Inside Computer Programs cover? A 1993 Apple patent for attaching digital sticky notes to documents so they move and behave like regular text or images within an application. ### Who owns patent US 5559942? Apple Computer Inc owns this patent, granted in 1996. ### When does this patent expire? This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely. ### What is patent US 5559942 cited by? This patent has been cited by 244 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This technology was a precursor to the modern digital annotation features found in everything from PDF readers to word processors. It solved the problem of how to keep comments tethered to specific document locations even when the document structure changes. It reflects the early 1990s push by Apple to make pen-based computing feel as natural as using paper and pen. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover general text annotation tools that are not tied to a specific manipulable anchor object. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5559942/mac-os-menu-bar **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US5559942 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How to Interact with Background Apps While Using Another App](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10521248/swiftui) — A method for controlling background applications directly through a visual window inside the app you are currently using. - [How Computers Automatically Detect and Act on Data Like Phone Numbers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5946647/system-and-method-for-performing-an-action-on-a-structure-in-computer-generated-data) — Apple's 1999 patent describing how software can automatically recognize patterns like phone numbers or dates in text and offer relevant actions like calling or scheduling. - [How Touchscreens Handle Scrolling and Rubber-Band Effects](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7844915/application-programming-interfaces-for-scrolling-operations) — This patent describes the software logic that allows touchscreens to distinguish between simple scrolling and multi-finger gestures, while also enabling the signature 'rubber-band' bounce effect when you reach the end of a page. - [How Web Browsers Run Embedded Programs Inside Documents](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5838906/microsoft-internet-browser) — A 1994 invention that allowed web browsers to automatically launch and run external programs directly inside a webpage, enabling interactive content like 3D models or complex data viewers. - [How Handheld Devices Organize Recently Used Files and Contacts](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6901559/microsoft-office-ribbon-ui) — A 2000-era Microsoft patent for showing a 'Recent' category on handheld devices, allowing users to interact with recent items exactly like they would with any other file.