[Freetype-wiki-commit] [A freetype Wiki] Update of "PatentsLimits"

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The following page has been changed by AaronBrady:
http://freetype.freedesktop.org/wiki/PatentsLimits

New page:
The TrueType Patents

      Apple Computer owns three patents that are related to the processing of glyph outlines within TrueType fonts. This process if also called hinting or grid-fitting and is used to enhance the quality of glyphs at small bitmap sizes. The patents are:
   *Patent #1 :  US5155805: Method and apparatus for moving control points in displaying digital typeface on raster output devices

            Filed on May, 8 1989
   * Patent #2 : US5159668: Method and apparatus for manipulating outlines in improving digital typeface on raster output devices

            Filed on May, 8 1989 too. Actually, the two patents were filed and granted concurrently.
   * Patent #3 : US5325479: Method and apparatus for moving control points in displaying digital typeface on raster output devices

            Filed on May 28, 1992

      It's important to understand that the patents do not prevent anyone from reading, converting or generating TrueType fonts. As they only concern the subtle art of hinting TrueType glyphs, it's even possible to legally display text with TrueType fonts, as long as the patented techniques aren't used to optimise the bitmaps at small pixel sizes.

see http://freetype.sourceforge.net/patents.html