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We've had tabbed UIs for a while now. Ribbon is literally just a tab UI displaying options...

• WalterGR 9y ago
  Ribbon is literally just a tab UI That's incorrect. TFA has links to information about why that's incorrect. In brief, however, the Ribbon is context-sensitive. Whether that deserves a patent, and whether any software should be patentable, IANAL.
  • Retric 9y ago
    Context sensitive UI's are for example very common in games. Some also included tabs. So, context sensitivity is not in it's self novel.
    • gnode 9y ago
      Often patents cover the combination of multiple non-patent-able things. E.g. the fan, heating element, and the concept of blowing hot air were not novel in 1931, but that didn't stop the hair dryer being patented.
      • Retric 9y ago
        I meant that for example JRPG's have both context sensitivity and tab based menu systems. EX: Only showing spells after the character learns them, or disabling Magic menu for non magic characters. Now if they want a narrow patent that covers say hair dryers but not floor heaters that's not as hard to defend. But narrow patents are also less useful.
    • fooker 9y ago
      Not-so-novel things in combination can be rather novel.
      • Retric 9y ago
        I was pointing out you see them both used in the same context somewhere else. JRPG's had both context sensitivity and nested tabable menus. If they have some very narrow definition that's allowed, but a wide scope invites a wider range of prior art.