Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_S
Any rational being would think that this whole line of thinking is trivial in the extreme, and that the courts have much better things to do than quibble about the size, shape and placement of icons on a screen.
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Well, you have a point, but I think it's a small one.There is no question that it's a monstrously huge waste of time to debate what amounts to inconsequential details, but they actually mask a significant issue - what is protecting intellectual property in relation to design?
We either have laws to protect intelligent property, or we don't. Design is intellectual property. There is no difference in ripping off someone's design or ripping off someone's functionality. Both activities require a lot of time and effort. One is no less valuable than the other.
It's a point of principle, and wherever courts debate these things, you will always find some absurdity lurking somewhere.