In the future, there may be services that certify the legality of a Web site, by using software or other techniques, to identify whether any patented methods are being infringed by the Web site. It is also possible that the government will institute some form of compulsory licensing, which requires the owners of key software or business methods to license them.
A more likely scenario is a trend toward uniformity in Web site design, similar to the trend towards software uniformity that began with Microsoft Windows®. This would have both positive and negative consequences for consumers in that Web sites would be easier to navigate but might lack the innovative character they currently exhibit.