As per upstream's comments, X allows this to be configured, so it's up to the toolkit/desktop to expose the configuration functionality to users.
Note, sometimes desktop environments like to avoid providing too much configuration options to avoid confusing users, so will make educated choices about the optimum default settings and limit configuration. Thus it is possible this might be a WONTFIX bug by gnome-desktop; in such case your options are either to utilize the lower level config tools provided by X itself (e.g. xinput, as you mentioned), or if it really bothers you, select a desktop environment where these options are more exposed. ** Package changed: xorg (Ubuntu) => gnome-desktop (Ubuntu) -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/735665 Title: Impossible to disable middle-click paste without breaking the middle mouse button -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs