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EU Throws out Microsoft's Vista Font Trademark

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the stirred-up-a-hornets-nest dept.

vitaly.friedman writes "Microsoft has lost another round at the EU though this time it has nothing to do with the antitrust case. This time the dispute is over fonts; specifically Segoe, one of the typefaces Microsoft wants to use in Vista. Microsoft filed its "registered community design" for the font back in January of 2004, paid the required fee, and everything was great until December." A copy of the decision is also available.

7 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. In case you didn't know by Krach42 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Segoe is essentially identical to Frutiger Next, and specifically the problem in the EU, is that someone at Microsoft told the EU that it *was* identical to Frutiger Next.

    So, it's naturally really hard to get a trademark on a typeface that you previously said was identical to Frutiger Next.

    At the bottom of the wiki page, they have a comparison of the two, the biggest different is the capital Q, where the tail is shifted slightly, and that's all. Oh, the numeral 1 also looks different. Everything else is identical.

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    I am unamerican, and proud of it!
  2. Re:Quick! by Krach42 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No, read the details of the case. Microsoft told the EU that Segoe was identical to Frutiger Next.

    Naturally no one should be able to register an IP that is identical to someone else's.

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    I am unamerican, and proud of it!
  3. See for yourself by Odin_Tiger · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's a side-by-side comparison of the two fonts.

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    Unpleasantries.
  4. Woo-hoo! by Java+Ape · · Score: 5, Funny
    It takes some serious chutzpah to steal a font outright and then try to get legal protection of "your" work. And they'd have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddeling judges. Microsoft's arguments were pathetic -- they've obviously gotten used to bought-and-paid-for system in the U.S. (*SIGH*).

    Next week I think I'll register a few new fonts:

    • Messenger: Looks a lot like Courier
    • Verbatim: Somewhat resembles Verdana
    • Times Ripoff: Amazing similar to Times New Roman

    You know, font development isn't easy -- it's much harder than it first appears to build a font that is attractive, easily readable, and infinitely scalable. Using Microsoft's new font-development technique, even a yutz like me can produce attractive fonts in minutes. Maybe Microsoft should patent the technique of "stealing from others" -- they've used it enough they might be able to get trademark protection on it as well.

  5. Re:Quick! by Luctius · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No, its just that the EU does say no to microsoft.

  6. Re:Quick! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative
    Is it just me that's getting the impression that the EU has something against Microsoft?

    Yes, bright spark, it is just you. Frutiger (and its close relative Frutiger Next) is an extremely famous typeface and one that's existed since the 1960s. Microsoft then makes a copy of this font (have a look yourself—it's that obvious) then tries to register it as its own and you think it's unfair that this application was denied?

    Give me a break.

  7. Re:Quick! by Xiph · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Or possibly, they've picked up on MicroSofts way of doing things, and are starting to put their "requests" under some scrutiny.
    As they should do with any company.

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    Blah blah sig blah blah blah irony blah blah