FreeType Project Cheers TrueType Patent Expiration 203
FlorianMueller writes "The FreeType project celebrates the expiration of Apple's TrueType bytecode patents. The open source font rendering engine now has the bytecode technology enabled by default. The relevant code existed for some time, but the project felt forced to disable it and advise everyone not to use it due to patent encumbrance. The 20-year maximum of validity of software patents is long, but sometimes the stuff that becomes available is still useful. The Unisys GIF patent was an example. And anything open-sourced 20 years ago would also be patent-free by now (except for the code that has since been added)."
Re:This makes me worried... (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Funny Enough... (Score:5, Funny)
I suppose Apple had no issue recompiling with the flag turned on.
IIRC, the Freetype FAQ suggested that for commercial use, you could talk to Apple and get a license so that you can legally recompile with the flags on. I assume Apple sent an email to 127.0.0.1 to request such permission.
Re:This makes me worried... (Score:3, Funny)
If it's obvious, it's not supposed to be patentable. Unfortunately, the examiners seem to let a lot of obvious things slip through, but that covers your scenario.
Why don't you go tell the meso-american civilizations that the wheel is obvious?...
Re:Patent time needs to be extended! (Score:1, Funny)
God, just mark this whole thread offtopic, please. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION HAS NOTHING THE FUCK TO DO WITH FONT ANTI-ALIASING. BOTH SIDES TAKE YOUR GODDAMNED WHARRGARBL ELSEWHERE AND LET THE REST OF US DEAL WITH FONTS AND PATENTS HERE.
The illegal immigrants aren't taking anyone's job, because hardly anyone else here will do it. Their claim: take our jobs, please. It's hard work, and we're stealing nobody's job.
Only to those who don't know any better. I have family members in drywall, and several friends in the masonry business. Most of them are currently unemployed - not for lack of wanting to work, but for the fact that the companies that employed them went under due to not being able to competitively bid against companies using off the books/illegal labor. Other companies are literally bidding less than the break even cost of legit companies because they're paying their labor under the table for less than minimum wage.