[Sigia-l] patent on navigation?

[Livia Labate]

 > I posted to this
> list about it, but those who replied didn't seem to see it as a problem.
> On the one hand that surprised me, but on the other hand there are so
> many stupid UI patents in the US that maybe all you *can* do as a
> practicing IA is shrug. I'm sure that just by the law of averages there
> are quite a few "infringing" UI designs out there that members of this
> list have helped create. Anyone want to admit to any one-click ordering,
> for example ;-) ?

Ha, good point Jonathan. I am sure many of us are infringing patents we 
are not even aware of. It seems like patents are of no importance unless 
you are making copious amounts of money from something that uses a 
patent. If you're only making some money from it nobody cares. :)

That's why the whole concept of patenting UI elements/behaviors is 
absurd - first, there is no way to monitor who is using a patented UI 
element (except coming across them by chance or through a 
high-visibility product), second, design evolves and UI elements evolve 
with it. I may use a patented approach to solve a problem today and 
tweak it tomorrow during a design iteration and then it comes something 
different - how relevant and/or enforcible is the patent then?

UI patents are the silliest concept since... I don't know, Ms Boo.