RE: OpenType vs TrueType (was current version of unicode-font)

From: Peter Constable (petercon@microsoft.com)
Date: Sat Dec 04 2004 - 08:39:46 CST

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    > From: Philippe Verdy [mailto:verdy_p@wanadoo.fr]

    > What alarmed me is that this domain was previously referencing
    Microsoft's
    > documentation.

    Not that I know of.

    > Also the fact that Microsoft's presentation of OpenType (previously
    > TrueType
    > Open, previously TrueType) has removed the reference to Apple's
    > contributions in TrueType, leaving only Microsoft as the owner of the
    > trademark and technology, also partly attributed to Adobe).

    The TrueType spec was developed jointly by Apple and Microsoft. The
    OpenType spec was developed jointly by Microsoft and Adobe. I wouldn't
    expect to see Apple's name on the OpenType spec any more than I would
    expect to see Adobe's name on the TrueType spec.

    > With Apple now supporting other layout tables, that are not referenced
    in
    > the Microsoft documentations for OpenType, this really suggested me a
    > branch
    > split after disagreement (also increased by the new status of
    Monotype).

    (I have to give you credit for imagination.) Apple has supported other
    layout tables for years -- since around 1994.

    > What is strange also is that the www.opentype.org web site is a page
    whose
    > title refers to "Arial Unicode MS". Isn't it a Microsoft font?

    Has it occurred to you to look at the font properties to determine who
    owns the font? Here's the copyright string:

    "Digitized data copyright (C) 1993-2000 Agfa Monotype Corporation. All
    rights reserved. Arial(r) is a trademark of The Monotype Corporation
    which may be registered in certain jurisdictions."

    > These things
    > all combined are very intrigating.

    Your job title isn't "conspiracy theorist" by any chance?

    > Is there a way outside OpenType for other system vendors than
    Microsoft
    > and Apple? This standard loks more and more proprietary...

    Since Apple is not one of the owners of the OpenType spec but they are
    starting to support it, how can you conclude that the standard is
    looking more and more proprietary? OpenType is the most widely-supported
    font format.

    Peter Constable

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