Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!umich!sharkey!nstar!syscon!moocow!drmath From: drmath@moocow.uucp (Doctor Math) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems Subject: Re: Hayes Microcomputer lawsuit??? Message-ID: Date: 6 Feb 91 16:49:06 GMT References: <143610@pyramid.pyramid.com> Organization: Brown Cow Software (a licensed Waffle developer) Lines: 27 lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell) writes: > In article <1933@blackbird.afit.af.mil> lriggins@blackbird.afit.af.mil (L. Ma > (Justified cheapshot at Apple deleted) > >Look who's talking about ridiculous patents! > > > It IS too bad that certain companies (Apple Lotus) have > turned the personal recreational term "look and feel" into a > legal term...with no relationship to it's prior fun useage. As far as I'm concerned, the whole "look and feel" business has gotten way out of hand. What if auto manufacturers were allowed to do the same? Say, Ford has a patent covering placement of the gas pedal, and GM has another patent covering placement, size, and functionality of the steering wheel, while Dodge gets a patent for location of the brake pedal. What happens? (a) the price of cars skyrockets, (b) each manufacturer develops a different "look and feel" for their user interface. Either way, the consumer loses. Comparison: How wide a selection of terminal programs would be available if each manufacturer's modems had different interface and command specifications? You'd be stuck with whatever terminal program you got with your modem, and if you didn't like the features, too bad. When does this become "unfair restraint of trade"? *** Doctor Math Disclaimer: I don't have a job, therefore my opinions are worthless.