If this is true, why wouldn't Microsoft patent the taskbar or directory structure tree layout pattern in Explorer?
I don't think you would be granted a design (let alone utility) patent that is as broad as "green and yellow blocks have significance, is a grid of 5x6, and has a keyboard below".
This one refers to Wordle in the spec (which implies it's well known) and cites 5 other patents. Not knowing how Wordle works, I wouldn't speculate as to their chances of getting a patent, but NYT seems to be pursuing a copyright approach for now.
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You cannot copyright gameplay.
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/intellectual_property_law....
but you can patent it.
You can’t expect a lawyer to know the difference between copyright and patents.
If this is true, why wouldn't Microsoft patent the taskbar or directory structure tree layout pattern in Explorer?
I don't think you would be granted a design (let alone utility) patent that is as broad as "green and yellow blocks have significance, is a grid of 5x6, and has a keyboard below".
Not a lawyer though so what do I know
Microsoft did patent the taskbar. [1]
[1] https://patents.google.com/patent/US5920316A/en
No you can't.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5662332A/en here is a patent for Magic the Gathering.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20070226648A1/en
https://patents.google.com/patent/US10369470B2/en
You most certainly can
https://patents.google.com/patent/US11786805B1/en
This one refers to Wordle in the spec (which implies it's well known) and cites 5 other patents. Not knowing how Wordle works, I wouldn't speculate as to their chances of getting a patent, but NYT seems to be pursuing a copyright approach for now.