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From: marek@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (Marek Lugowski)
Newsgroups: comp.fonts
Subject: a thought regarding possible patent protection for fonts
Message-ID: <49667@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu>
Date: 3 Jul 90 19:08:45 GMT
Sender: marek@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu
Lines: 24

The following is a serious proposal.  Are there others like it?

Perhaps we should require all future font designers wishing to patent
their fonts to put enough of a demonstrable advance over the "state of art"
into their submitted creations to withstand a burden of proof not unlike
leveled against novel electronic circuits?  This is not unlike applying for
patents for other things.  Create a new font and show to the U.S. Patent
Office's satisfaction that you have advanced some aspect of fonts over
and above what is out there.

Copyright for fonts is a mistake, in that fonts are tools and should be
protected as tools are.  Fonts are also a cultural property first in
the sense that airwaves are.  After all, if you will show me your font,
you are performing access to my perceptual and memetic system and thus
to that of the community.  Perhaps that relinquishes much of any copyright
protection afforded to you were you to keep your font to yourself and your
friends.
 
Naturally, all present typefaces are by default "state of the art" and thus
present the burden of proof to be dealt with.
 
                        -- Marek

Ideas?  Comments?  Exceptionally painful flames?... (smirk)