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FreeType Project Cheers TrueType Patent Expiration
FlorianMueller writes "The FreeType project celebrates the expiration of Apple's TrueType bytecode patents. The open source font rendering engine now has the bytecode technology enabled by default. The relevant code existed for some time, but the project felt forced to disable it and advise everyone not to use it due to patent encumbrance. The 20-year maximum of validity of software patents is long, but sometimes the stuff that becomes available is still useful. The Unisys GIF patent was an example. And anything open-sourced 20 years ago would also be patent-free by now (except for the code that has since been added)."
In much the same way that the H1-B programs get extended and increased while unemployment is hitting new highs
Indeed. Those in power always seem to find excuses to line their pockets. Much like contractors proclaim that illegal immigrants are taking jobs that "no one else wants" despite anyone in the know seeing that there are a ton of unemployed Americans in the drywall, masonry, landscaping, and other construction trades looking for work who can't find it because of jobs taken by illegals. What the rich guys mean whey they say they're taking jobs that "no one wants" is that they're taking jobs that THEY don't want.
Like I said, they'll always try to argue to line their own pockets.
"People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain