Not that i support AOL, but I don't see why they shouldn't at least be able to protect the annoying sound bite for "You've got mail." As for protecting the actual verbage of "you've got mail, IM and buddy list" that is IMHO just another attempt at AOL's lawyers to get more billable hours and tie up the courts from doing anything productive. As for the whole IM hoopla, i thought that there had been sucessful cases for "Look and Feel" infringement befor (ala Microsoft and Apple).