[d@DCC] Why patents are bad for software - Just ask RIM.

[John Lange]

On Wed, 2004-12-15 at 09:34, Charles MacDonald wrote:
> If I come across a copyright software program that does something 
> interesting, I can go ahead a write a new program that does the same 
> thing as long as I don't make it look like a  clone of the other program 
> (look and feel copyright).

Are there look and feel copyrights?

Most software looks & feels the same as other software, especially
software that does a similar task. e.g. Word, WordPerfect & OpenOffice.

Taking it one step further; ReactOS is an open source clone of Windows
made to look, feel and operate identically in every way.
http://www.reactos.com/ (its far from finished and only barely works so
don't get excited).

I thought Windows and Apple fought this out in the early 90s over the
trashcan icon or some such silliness?

-- 
John Lange