# Is the metro design developed by Microsoft copyrighted?

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/is-the-metro-design-developed-by-microsoft-copyrighted/327573>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [March 10, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/is-the-metro-design-developed-by-microsoft-copyrighted/327573 "2012-03-10T15:32:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![flashgroove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5e925/32.png) [@flashgroove](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/flashgroove)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/is-the-metro-design-developed-by-microsoft-copyrighted/327573/1 "2012-03-10T15:32:03Z")

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Hi,

I have recently read a few articles about the upcoming Windows 8 and it’s metro design and I was wondering one thing:

Is this metro design that Microsoft developed copyrighted ?

(Can an interface design style be copyrighted ?)

Can another company use a similar design for it’s applications ?

I am curious about this and am looking forward to some opinions.

Thank you.