Well, considering that companies will patent [i]anything[/i] they can come up with, whether they will use it themselves or not, I see absolutely no need to ever worry. It's something so ridiculous, I don't think even Microsoft would ever think to stooping so low :P The reason you patent any idea that you can come up with, no matter how far-fetched or silly it might seem is because you can make money off it even if it's something you'll never use yourself. If someone else comes along later and decides they want to use that idea, they have to pay you royalties for using it.