#Postscript fonts
13 messages in this thread
Is the program you mention for converting Macintosh fonts for converting
Postscript fonts or bit-mapped fonts? I need Postscript fonts. Adobe
publishesver 300 different fonts in addition to the 35 fonts available on
most Postscript printers. Screen representations for these fonts are
available from a variety of sources, but are only in formats that can be
used by Mac's or IBM's. I'm looking for a source of screen representations
of these fonts that are in a format my Amiga can read and use.
The PD converter program only converts Mac bitmap fonts to Amiga bitmap
fonts. There is also a PD program to create Professional Page metric
files. I'm curious about the process you plan to use in order to use
downloadable PostScript fonts. How does Pro Page perform the substitution
of names? I'd guess as long as it finds a screen rep font, and a metric
file, that it will use the font name in the PostScript code it generates?
How will you send the downloadable fonts to the printer, just with COPY?
One point about Adobe's screen fonts. They are copyrighted by Adobe, who
gets rather picky about copyright infringement. So you are violating the
copyright law if you make converted Amiga versions of the copyrighted Mac
fonts.
Adobe has plenty of screen fonts that are available for the effort, without
apparent restriction. Just go over to the Adobe forum. Or, buy them from
Adobe. What's the difference between downloading them to your Mac or PC,
or to your Amiga? I don't think there is an infringement. Also note that
City Desk will read the .AFM files from the Adobe forum, too.
I would check with a lawyer before using any Adobe fonts stored in a format
other than the .AFM file format. If you convert the data to an Amiga font
format, and particlarly then if you include them with a commercial software
package, life could get interesting.
You can't copyright bit map font data. You can, however, trademark the
names. Hence there is nothing keeping you from using a "Helvetica"-like
font (for example) and calling it "Swiss".
Also, the AFM files do not contain font data, merely font metric
information (i.e. character spacing and kerning info). The AFM stands for
"Adobe Font Metric", obviously not font data.
You're welcome to do as you like. My guess is they could get you if they
could prove that you had used an algorithmic conversion program to convert
their fonts to your fonts, in a different file format. You're in a better
position to know, since you're selling a font-using WP. I would certainly
check the legalities before I used the fonts in a different file format, or
for that matter in any commercial way.
I didn't mean to imply in my previous message that we are using PostScript
screen fonts without a license, merely stating the facts of the legalities
involved. Sure, Adobe has lots of money and they could (try to) go after
someone who generates screen representations of their fonts. However the
fact of the matter is (and there is even a recent legal decision supporting
this) that bit-map data for fonts is not copyrightable. Although we are
not planning to come out with non-licensed fonts, we _have_ researched the
legalities involved (since, as you say, we have an interest in screen fonts
for use in word processors).
I thought I'd heard recently that you could NOT copyright computer fonts.
You certainly can copyright fonts. That's the reason you see HP sell Tms
Roman as one of their fonts, since the original Times Roman is trademarked
and copyrighted. According to the other message, Adobe has not put
copyright restrictions on their screen fonts. If that's correct, it's great
news – just the answer for what people need for Postscript compatible
screen fonts. Mike
There was a recent decision by the bureau that handles copyrights (I
believe, I'll have to look it up to be sure) that re-affirms that font
bit-map data is NOT copyrightable.
The reason that HP sells Tms Roman is because the name Times Roman is
trademarked _only_. Not copyrighted. However, trademark protection is
strong enough to keep others from using the same name, but they can still
use the same font data (or equivalent data that generates equivalent
results).
Thanks for clarifying the issue. Mike