The Lotus Development Corp versus Borland International Inc lawsuit over the look and feel of the 1-2-3 spreadsheet is over – but in the most unsatisfactory manner possible. The US Supreme Court has effectively thrown the issue back to the industry, because by splitting four to four and therefore letting the most recent appeal court ruling – in favour of Borland – stand, and not issuing an opinion, no new precedent is set either way. Under the ruling that now ends the case, the appearance and operation of the menus and commands of 1-2-3 were not copyrightable because they constituted a method of operation like the controls on the front of a microwave, and as such are specifically excluded from the protection of the US Federal Copyright Act of 1976.
