Ubuntu changing its look

Posted Mar 4, 2010 13:10 UTC (Thu) by k3ninho (subscriber, #50375)
In reply to: Ubuntu changing its look by drag
Parent article: Ubuntu changing its look

The memepool needs to know the concept of a 'design patent' (U.S.) or design rights (E.U.) for the appearance of an item, not how it works or is constructed. Design rights were created in the UK to to stop people using copyright to stifle a market for similarly-designed items or spare parts. the legislation was created to assist entrepreneurial endeavours. The governing tests for infringement of a design {right,patent} monopoly centre around whether an alleged copy is 'substantially similar'.

Typefaces *are* copyrightable as a creative work and additionally can be protected by design patents (e.g. US design patent D1 is for a typeface) or design rights.

Stating the myth that rules about creative endeavour, invention and reputation which are lumped together under the banner of 'intellectual property' are 'flat-out insane' (sadly) won't stop people using those rules to steal your lunch.

K3n.

Ubuntu changing its look

Posted Mar 4, 2010 16:53 UTC (Thu) by drag (guest, #31333) [Link]

Typefaces *are* copyrightable as a creative work and additionally can be protected by design patents (e.g. US design patent D1 is for a typeface) or design rights.

Yes.. I did mention that Typefaces are patentable in the USA, but the patents are rare and hard to get. I think there are a total of 150 patents in total and they last specifically for 14 years. The latest typeface I could find that was patented was Lucida and that was in 1994 and is expired now. But I did not do a exhaustive search.

And it's true that Fonts are copyrightable in the USA. Not all fonts.. scalable fonts are copyrightable, but bitmaps of fonts are not. Typefaces are not copyrightable.

Now in the UK and in Germany this may be different, but I only know the USA laws.

One thing to keep in mind is that:
Fonts != Typeface

In at least scalable digital fonts are concerned. Font is the implimentation and Typeface is the appearence if I understand everything correctly. (I am not sure of that).

IANAL