Microsoft has filed for a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office that concerns with the virtual 'page-turning' technology, currently being used by many e-book readers, reports tech news website, The Register.

Microsoft has publicized the application number for its patent number as 20100175018. This further confirms that the company is looking to seek for a patent for the page-turning animation which is utilized when a user makes the apt hand gesture on the touch screen of an e-book reader.

The Filing that came up on the report read as: “The virtual page turn curls a lifted portion of the page to progressively reveal a back side of the page while progressively revealing a front side of a subsequent page.”

Meanwhile if the patent is granted it might increase the rivalry with Apple, whose iPad reader uses a similar feature.

Other devices, who use this technology are Amazon's Kindle app for the iPhone and iPad, Aldiko for Android and Stanza for iPhone.