Columbia Kermit/kermit.zip/pcfonts/copyleft.txt

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This *compilation* is (c) Copyright 1991,1992 Joseph (Yossi) Gil.
Permission is granted to use and redistribute the files comprising
this collection in any way (including conversion to another format),
provided that my name and addresses and this notice is preserved.

Simple (dare I say trivial?) bitmapped screen fonts such as the ones
included in this collection cannot be copyrighted.  In general, one can
only copyright programs that generate fonts.  This is why postscript
fonts are copyrightable.  For more details refer to discussions various
"legal" newsgroups.  In addition, I have included a relevant excerpt
from the FAQ of comp.fonts at the bottom of this document.

No one can claim any copyright on the fonts in this archive.  They
have been collected from numerous sources.  Legally speaking, you are
*free* to do with the individual fonts whatever you like.  Individual
fonts are in the public domain.  I do ask that you will kindly refrain
from causing confusion by distributing modified versions of the fonts
contained in this collection.

Please send any all your EGA/VGA text mode fonts contributions to me
rather than distributing a modified version of this collection.  I
will add your fonts to the next edition of this collection and happily
acknowledge your help.  Your cooperation will enable us all to benefit
from your contribution.  See the file LOOKING4.TXT for more details.

I am trying to keep track of the origins of these fonts.  See the file
FONTORIG.TXT.  Unfortunately, I only started to record this information
on version 1.2.  Records of origin of earlier fonts are missing.
If you know the origin of any of the fonts here, please drop me a note.

In addition to this collection, I distribute a set of utilities for
loading, viewing and otherwise manipulating the fonts.  These utilities
are always in an archive fntutlXX.ZIP where XX is the version number.
All the utilities require no shareware payment.  Restrictions on
distribution and usage are only to the extent necessary to protect
the free distribution.

I see this is as my pleasant duty to pay tribute to the following
individuals who communicated and contributed to this archive:

    Dov Grobgeld <[e-mail]>
    Angelos Karageorgiou <[e-mail]>,<[e-mail]>
    Alexandre (Alex) Khalil <[e-mail]>,<[e-mail]>

This collection would not have been what it today is without
their help!


Author's Address
================
E-mail internet address: [e-mail]

Alternate E-mail addresses:    [e-mail],  [e-mail].

Permanent mailing address  is:
    Joseph  Gil,
    P.O. Box 3148,
    Jerusalem,
    Israel.

Hebrew  mailing address  (you  cannot  read  the  following  unless your
screen adapter can display Hebrew character):
                                                                   îëé ëæàë
                                                                  3148 .â.Ü
                                                                    ìëîÖàÿë

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From comp.fonts Sat Sep  5 11:12:35 1992
    [e-mail] (Norman Walsh)
Newsgroups: comp.fonts
Subject: FAQ: Part-I: General Info
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 4 Sep 92 19:32:07 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Dept of Comp and Info Sci, Univ of Mass (Amherst)

FAQ for comp.fonts: Part I: General Info

Maintained by Norm Walsh <[e-mail]> and
              Bharathi Jagadeesh <[e-mail]>

Version 0.0.3, Release 04SEP92

Welcome to the comp.fonts FAQ.  This article, posted monthly, describes many
of the basic questions that seem to be repeated frequently on comp.fonts.
Your comments are both welcome and encouraged.

   Standard disclaimers apply.

....
   At one level, there are two major sorts of fonts: bitmapped and outline
   (scalable).  Bitmapped fonts are falling out of fashion as various
   outline technologies grow in popularity and support.

   Bitmapped fonts represent each character as a rectangular grid of pixels.
   The bitmap for each character indicates precisely what pixels should be
   on and off.  Printing a bitmapped character is simply a matter of
   blasting the right bits out to the printer.  There are a number of
   disadvantages to this approach.  The bitmap represents a particular
   instance of the character at a particular size and resolution.  It is
   very difficult to change the size, shape, or resolution of a bitmapped
   character without significant loss of quality in the image.  On the other
   hand, it's easy to do things like shading and filling with bitmapped
   characters.

.....

5. Are fonts copyrightable?

   This topic is hotly debated at regular intervals on comp.fonts.
   Terry Carroll <[e-mail]> provides the following
   analysis of current [ed: as of 6/92] legislation and regulation
   regarding fonts and copyrights.  Members of the comp.fonts community
   are encouraged to submit other materials that add clarity to the
   issue.

   *-[Quote]-----------------------------------------------------------*

   First, the short answer: Typefaces are not copyrightable; bitmapped
   fonts are not copyrightable, but scalable fonts are copyrightable.
   Authorities for these conclusions follow.

   Before we get started, let's get some terminology down:

   A typeface is a set of letters, numbers, or other symbolic characters,
   whose forms are related by repeating design elements consistently
   applied in a notational system and are intended to be embodied in
   articles whose intrinsic utilitarian function is for use in composing
   text or other cognizable combinations of characters.

   A font is the computer file or program that is used to represent or
   create the typeface.

   Now, on to the legal authorities:

   Volume 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations specifies this about the
   copyrightability of typefaces:

   "The following are examples of works not subject to copyright and
   applications for registration of such works cannot be entertained: . . .
   typeface as typeface" 37 CFR 202.1(e).

   By the way, you won't find that in the most recent (7/1/91) edition of
   the CFR; the addition was enacted 2/21/92.  It'll be in the next
   edition, though.  It's described in the 2/21/92 edition of the Federal
   Register, page 6201 (57 FR 6201).  The change didn't actually change the
   law, it just clarified it, and codified existing Copyright Office
   policy.

   The regulation is in accordance with the House of Representatives report
   that accompanied the new copyright law, when it was passed in 1976:

   "The Committee has considered, but chosen to defer, the possibility of
   protecting the design of typefaces.  A 'typeface' can be defined as a
   set of letters, numbers, or other symbolic characters, whose forms are
   related by repeating design elements consistently applied in a
   notational system and are intended to be embodied in articles whose
   intrinsic utilitarian function is for use in composing text or other
   cognizable combinations of characters.  The Committee does not regard
   the design of typeface, as thus defined, to be a copyrightable
   'pictoral, graphic, or sculptural work' within the meaning of this bill
   and the application of the dividing line in section 101."  H. R. Rep.
   No.  94-1476, 94th Congress, 2d Session at 55 (1976), reprinted in 1978
   U.S. Cong. and Admin. News 5659, 5668.

   It's also in accordance with the one court case I know of that has
   considered the matter: Eltra Corp. V. Ringer, 579 F.2d 294, 208 USPQ 1
   (1978, C.A. 4, Va.).

   The Copyright Office holds that a bitmapped font is nothing more than a
   computerized representation of a typeface, and as such is not
   copyrightable:

   "The [September 29, 1988] Policy Decision [published at 53 FR 38110]
   based on the [October 10,] 1986 Notice of Inquiry [published at 51 FR
   36410] reiterated a number of previous registration decisions made by
   the [Copyright] Office.  First, under existing law, typeface as such is
   not registerable.  The Policy Decision then went on to state the
   Office's position that 'data that merely represents an electronic
   depiction of a particular typeface or individual letterform' [that is, a
   bitmapped font] is also not registerable."  57 FR 6201.

   However, scalable fonts are, in the opinion of the Copyright Office,
   computer programs, and as such are copyrightable:

   "... the Copyright Office is persuaded that creating scalable typefonts
   using already-digitized typeface represents a significant change in the
   industry since our previous [September 29, 1988] Policy Decision.  We
   are also persuaded that computer programs designed for generating
   typeface in conjunction with low resolution and other printing devices
   may involve original computer instructions entitled protection under the
   Copyright Act.  For example, the creation of scalable font output
   programs to produce harmonious fonts consisting of hundreds of
   characters typically involves many decisions in drafting the
   instructions that drive the printer.  The expression of these decisions
   is neither limited by the unprotectable shape of the letters nor
   functionally mandated.  This expression, assuming it meets the usual
   standard of authorship, is thus registerable as a computer program."  57
   FR 6202.

   *-[Unquote]---------------------------------------------------------*