Re: fonts?

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Re: fonts?
by aegir on Tuesday 16/Sep/2003, @01:14

Hinting informations in a font is patented by Microsoft.

We have to find another way to render fonts.

Actually, while there is no alternative technology, M$ and Adobe can decide at any moment to forbit any free software to display or print any text...

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The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whomever posted them.
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Re: fonts?
by blegh! on Tuesday 16/Sep/2003, @01:51

>> Hinting informations in a font is patented by Apple.

Right.

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Re: fonts?
by anon on Tuesday 16/Sep/2003, @06:13

> Hinting informations in a font is patented by Microsoft.

You mean, hinting information in a TrueType font is patented by Apple, don't you?

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Re: fonts?
by aegir on Tuesday 16/Sep/2003, @06:16

Yes by Apple, sorry.

But I do not mean "hints in a TrueType font" but "hints in any font format".

AFAIK...

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Re: fonts?
by anon on Tuesday 16/Sep/2003, @06:19

Hinting in type1/type3 fonts is not patented. Hinting TT fonts is also not patented, but hinting with bytecoded information in TT fonts is patented by Apple.

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Re: fonts?
by aegir on Tuesday 16/Sep/2003, @06:41

AFAIK, the patent is not limited to TT fonts, but any fonts :

US Patent 5159668 :

What is claimed is:

1. A method for manipulating the outline of a symbol image at a plurality of output sizes for improving the display of a digital typeface on raster output device having an output resolution and having an array of pixels, comprising the steps of:

storing in a first memory means a plurality of control points corresponding to an outline of said symbol image, at least one of said control points having predetermined information specifying different positions of said at least one of said control points for at least two of said plurality of output sizes;

selecting at least one of said control points of said outline which requires manipulation;

selecting a first size from said plurality of output sizes to display said outline at said first size on said raster output device;

calculating a distance and direction for repositioning said selected control point at said first size and said output resolution;

manipulating said outline by using the distance and direction calculated for said selected control point to reposition said selected control point;

and storing the results of said outline manipulation in a second memory means.

(...)

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Re: fonts?
by LaNcom on Tuesday 16/Sep/2003, @06:25

Nope. There is one way to hint fonts that is patented by Apple. Freetype2 uses another way (auto-hinting). Go check their website:

http://www.freetype.org/patents.html

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Re: fonts?
by Rayiner Hashem on Tuesday 16/Sep/2003, @11:39

I don't see how. Hinting was in Postscript Type1 fonts long before Apple and Microsoft came up with TrueType. Between the PSHinter and the Autohinter in Freetype 2.1.5, I have no need for the patented TT hinter anymore :)

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