licensing /copyright question

I began working on an app, for a lack of a better term I am just calling it a portable desktop for the time being. This has similar functionality to the Windows desktop. Only this will run completely portable. The user can easily customize/ change the wallpaper, add shortcuts, rearrange shortcuts……. All with a few mouse clicks and can will be able to use this customized desktop on any system.

I have also created a “start button” (this will be renamed, for simplicity sake I am only using a common term for reference) that replicates the function of the PAM, however I would like to interface with the PAM directly on the buttons click event.

My question is, is there any issues with licensing /copyright infringement by interfacing directly with the PAM. I would like to keep with a common menu that we all know, however I can continue to develop my own menu if such is the case.

I plan to be putting this up for testing within the next week or two, but please bear with me. This is my first program outside of any formal class so it is slow going. And if there are any VB programmers I would love to pick your brains.