Well I predicted this one, Can't Palm just improve the interface to win, proposing that this may happen almost 2 weeks ago with the iPhony interface that has been released on Brighthand and then taken down by Apple.
I now predict that in will spread like wildfire in the P2P networks out there and someone will be smart enough to open-source the code on a wiki if its not out there already.

Legally Apple has done the right thing to protect their hard work and intellectual property.

Lets watch Apple compete with open-source innovation for once and be made to look like the bad guys like Microsoft...
I think their innovative interface will act as a foundation for PDA and smartphone interface designers to re-think how they design things and make them simpler and more fun to use.

Apple are good designers but c'mon... Patenting a button interface?
Someone can simply tweak all the icons, and it already exist in parts with LauncherX Skins.

My Palm TX interface isn't as effecient as it could be and if I can skin a more useful one I will. Thank you Apple for showing me a much better interface that my Palm TX can, and eventually will have.