I think it is pretty irrefutable that Jefferson would be against &quot;but on a computer...&quot; patents like slide to unlock based on the copious amount of writing he did on the subject of patents in his time.  see, for example:<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.let.rug.nl&#x2F;usa&#x2F;presidents&#x2F;thomas-jefferson&#x2F;letters-of-thomas-jefferson&#x2F;jefl220.php" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.let.rug.nl&#x2F;usa&#x2F;presidents&#x2F;thomas-jefferson&#x2F;letter...</a><p>Is slide to unlock a clever UI mechanism to put on a phone?  Sure.  Should that entitle it to a 20-ish year monopoly as an idea irrespective of implementation?  I don&#x27;t see how a reasonable person comes up with an answer other than &quot;of course not&quot;.<p>The entire patent system is so far twisted from what it was intended for, it is really quite a shame.