• ReadWriteWeb, Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:45 AM

It may be too late for Brett Favre, but if Apple has its way, mobile computing will soon be a lot less sextier. The tech giant was just awarded a patent -- filed back in early 2008 -- that can prevent users from "sexting," or sending and receiving "objectionable" text-messages. The patent, filed in January of 2008 and approved today, will allow certain content to be filtered, based on parental (or perhaps administrative) controls.

"Systems, devices, and methods are provided for enabling a user to control the content of text-based messages sent to or received from an administered device," the patent reads. "In some embodiments, a message will be blocked (incoming or outgoing) if the message includes forbidden content." As ReadWriteWeb suggests, such technology could make Apple devices like the iPhone and iPad all the more attractive to corporations and schools. On the other hand, "It may be another step towards Apple authoritarian control over our mobile devices."

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