[tex-live] Supportfiles for affordable Fontsite fonts - why not on CTAN?

[Werner LEMBERG]

>> if you want to know more about the history of the FontSite fonts
>> (and there seems to be the original (!) Palatino by Hermann Zapf
>> included), these may be of interest:
>>
>>    http://www.sanskritweb.net/forgers/#MEGAFONT
>>    http://www.sanskritweb.net/forgers/megafont.pdf
>>    http://www.sanskritweb.net/forgers/megafont2.pdf
>>    http://www.sanskritweb.net/forgers/#FORGERS
>>    http://www.sanskritweb.net/forgers/forgers.pdf
>>
>> ...the last one tells the difference between Monotype and
>> Linotype :-)
> 
> The document makes fascinating reading in its entirety, Hartmut, and
> I thank you for drawing it to our attention.  If I were certain that
> the contents were accurate, I would describe it as "absolute
> dynamite"; in your considered opinion, how accurate is the document
> and its allegations ?

Regarding German law, it looks very convincing.  The author goes into
great depth why fonts are not computer programs in the sense of the
copyright law – even the hints of (most) TrueType fonts – and can thus
be protected in Germany for at most 25 years as a `Geschmacksmuster'
only.


    Werner