Who owns the elements of the interface?

[jbv]

Alejandro,

> Recently, I become aware of the
> dispute of the tabbed interface
> between Adobe and Macromedia.
>
> Before, I learned that Apple is the
> legal owner of the Aqua look...
>
> My questions is:
>
> Who owns the elements of the interface?
>
> buttons, menus, hypertext, visual effects
> transitions, scroll fields, checkboxes, etc...
>
> Do they have owners too?
>

I remember something about the trial in "look and
feel" between Apple and Micro$oft in the 80's
when Windows was released : it seems that Rank
Xerox had been stated as the 1st inventor of all
these elements, and that the dispute was pointless...
But does that mean they are the owner ?
Or is it in public domain already ?

Or is this remark completly OT ?

JB