Hi,
According to http://www.macobserver.com/editorial/2003/03/04.2.shtml Apple has patented pretty much everything related to UI design. I can certainly see so many systems using the same idealogy, so, I wonder what those patents really mean -- aren't they there to stop people from implementing those design ideas? Can someone really patent user interface ideas?
The existence of user interface patents proves that, yes, someone can patent user interface ideas. The MacObserver link you posted shows that Apple was awarded numerous UI design patents.
http://www.google.com/patents?q=apple+inc&btnG=Search+Patents
What are you really asking?
This is more FUD then real patents.
The Lotus case made it clear that you can't protect a GUI. Someone can pick a GUI design, the famous spreadsheet, and copy it without running into legal problems.
Remember that just holding a patent doesn't mean anything else then you paid the 100$ for the application form to the US patent office.