It recently came to light that Apple has filed for a patent for methods of allowing mobile devices to discover and share data with each other, wirelessly. This includes videos, music, playlists, photos, slideshows and even games. The patent pays respect to digital rights by enabling restricted sharing as well.

Further, devices enabled with this feature can perform random sharing, similar to the iPod shuffle’s AutoFill feature.

Before you start muttering copycat under your breath, please note that this patent was filed about two months before the Zune launch.

Editor: Apple iPod, welcome to the Social.

[via macrumors]