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From: chesnutt@adobe.com (Stan Chesnutt)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript
Subject: Re: Copyright of Coded Font Programs
Message-ID: <1746@adobe.UUCP>
Date: 5 Feb 90 03:11:04 GMT
References: <1701@adobe.UUCP> <3517@csccat.UUCP> <1735@adobe.UUCP> <17859@rpp386.cactus.org>
Sender: news@adobe.COM
Reply-To: chesnutt@adobe.COM (Stan Chesnutt)
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated, Mountain View
Lines: 41

In article <17859@rpp386.cactus.org> woody@rpp386.cactus.org (Woodrow Baker) writes:
>In article <1735@adobe.UUCP>, jeynes@adobe.COM (Ross A. Jeynes) writes:
>> 
>> I think we probably have applied for a patent on our hinting technology,
>> though I'm not sure of this.
>
>Hmmmm, when you disclose the hinting mechanism, this might really bolix
>things up
>

Not really.  To patent a process or device, you must fully describe the
technique or mechanism.  This description is used by patent attorneys to
see if somebody hasn't already filed a patent using the same technique.
The description is also filed by the Patent Office, and is available to
interested parties.  This filing is available to courts, for example, to
try cases of patent infringement.

Thus, Adobe couldn't have patented it's font hinting technology, as it would
then be open to public scrutiny via the Patent Office.  Rather, it has probably
been considered "trade secret" information, which, as I understand, means that
the information can be protected via non-disclosure agreements.

It may have been possible for Adobe to patent the techniques in the past.  I am
not sure what sort of byzantine criteria qualify something as patentable.
However, if a patent were awarded, the information can no longer be secret.

As part of releasing the hinting techniques, Adobe may or may not have tried
to patent specific methods.  I have no idea what efforts are been made.

Incidentally, the local (Silicon Valley) patent office, I hear, is mostly
frequented by representatives of Japanese companies...

Note:  While I do work for Adobe, I have only social contact with the people
who decide our legal position on patentable and disclosable materials.  Thus,
the preceding message is based entirely upon conjecture and my own sketchy
knowledge of patent law.  If anybody has a firmer grasp of the concepts involved,
please chime in.

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Stan Chesnutt,  Adobe Systems  chesnutt@adobe.com {sun|decwrl}!adobe!chesnutt
the intersection of this posting and company policies is likely nil