[Gllug] More Microsoft patents

[Tethys]

Mike Brodbelt writes:

> One just has to look at Apple's patents on TrueType byte hinting as
> an example. They found a small loophole in patent law so they could
> get a typeface considered as a program

A couple of points -- firstly, programs themselves aren't patentable,
only the algorithms they use are. Secondly, treating a typeface as a
program isn't due to a loophole -- it's true (for PostScript fonts, at
least). Making fonts programs was a deliberate design decision by Adobe
to provide font foundries with stronger copyright protection than they
would otherwise have had from just outline data. Without that, it's
unlikely that the major font houses would have adopted PostScript.
But aside from that, the fact that they're programs gives you extra
flexibility that wouldn't be available with pure outline data. Of course,
most fonts don't use that flexibility, but it's there for those that want
it.

Tet

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