paul@aucs.UUCP (Paul Steele) (08/06/87)
I am posting this message on behalf of a professor in our French
department. He has recently purchased Adobe's Sonata font for use
with a laser printer. The license agreement states that it can only
be used on one laser printer. I guess that this is done by naming
the laser printer and initializing the font in some manner. If the
implications are correct, this is completely unacceptable to him. He
does not own a laser printer himself, so he would have to choose one
of the campus printers for his font, and then would be unable to use
the software on any other printer, either at out university or someplace
else. The installation instuctions state that if the installed printer
breaks down and requires a new motherboard, the end-user must submit
a bill of repairs to varify that the font installation has been lost
and they will then send you a new master disk so the font can be reinstalled
on the new motherboard.
Is this for real? He doesn't want to install the font until he fully
understands the implications of the license. Has anyone had any experience
with Adobe fonts they would like to share?
Paul H. Steele UUCP: {seismo|watmath|utai|garfield}!dalcs!aucs!Paul
Acadia University BITNET: {Paul|phs}@Acadia
Wolfville, NS Internet: {Paul|phs}%Acadia.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU
CANADA B0P 1X0 PHONEnet: (902) 542-2201x587chuq%plaid@Sun.COM (Chuq Von Rospach) (08/06/87)
>Is this for real? He doesn't want to install the font until he fully >understands the implications of the license. Has anyone had any experience >with Adobe fonts they would like to share? Yup. Adobe has one of the nastiest copy protection schemes I've seen on the Mac, and are one of the few companies left that won't even reconsider their stance on copy protection. This is the only reason why I, and many people I know, won't even consider buying an Adobe font, even though they've got some faces I'd kill to get my hands on. As long as the copy protection exists, I won't touch them and won't recommend them. (and yes, the copy protection is LW specific and does require a new master disk if you have to get your LW repaired, and I know at least half a dozen horror stories surrounding this little feature). Sigh. chuq Chuq Von Rospach chuq@sun.COM Delphi: CHUQ We live and learn, but not the wiser grow -- John Pomfret (1667-1" S
korn@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Peter "Arrgh" Korn) (08/07/87)
In <402@aucs.UUCP>, paul@aucs.UUCP (Paul Steele) said:
>...[discusses the Adobe 'one printer' font liscense, and asks "is this true?"]
I agree completely with Chuq on this one--it's one of the nastiest copy
protections out there, impossible (so far as I've found) to defeat, and
just generally downright obnoxious.
If you do need a font made my Adobe, there is something of a work-around.
You can purchase a 'multiple-printer' copy of the font, for 3x the amount
of the 'single-printer' copy.
Meanwhile, there are always the Cassady laser fonts (not quite as clean,
but much less expensive, and not copy-protected in any way).
Peter
--
Peter "Arrgh" Korn
korn@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU
{decvax,dual,hplabs,sdcsvax,ulysses}!ucbvax!kornjtyd@ur-tut.UUCP (Ty Dibble) (08/10/87)
In article <20009@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> korn@cory.Berkeley.EDU.UUCP (Peter "Arrgh" Korn) writes: >In <402@aucs.UUCP>, paul@aucs.UUCP (Paul Steele) said: > >>...[discusses the Adobe 'one printer' font liscense, and asks "is this true?"] > >I agree completely with Chuq on this one--it's one of the nastiest copy >protections out there, impossible (so far as I've found) to defeat, and > >If you do need a font made my Adobe, there is something of a work-around. According to a phone call I made to Adobe about 2 months ago, the single font cost was $185.00, and the multiple-printer version (read 5 printers) was $375.00. For use in a large institutional setting, the multiple printer arrangement is the only satisfactory answer. It would probably not be reasonable/economic for a single user in that environment (even if it were not copy prevented). >Meanwhile, there are always the Cassady laser fonts (not quite as clean, >but much less expensive, and not copy-protected in any way). J Ty Dibble - JTYD at the University of Rochester
edwards@bgsuvax.UUCP (Bruce Edwards) (08/11/87)
In article <20009@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>, korn@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Peter "Arrgh" Korn) writes: > In <402@aucs.UUCP>, paul@aucs.UUCP (Paul Steele) said: > > >...[discusses the Adobe 'one printer' font liscense, and asks "is this true?"] > > I agree completely with Chuq on this one--it's one of the nastiest copy > protections out there, impossible (so far as I've found) to defeat, and > just generally downright obnoxious. > > If you do need a font made my Adobe, there is something of a work-around. > You can purchase a 'multiple-printer' copy of the font, for 3x the amount > of the 'single-printer' copy. > > Meanwhile, there are always the Cassady laser fonts (not quite as clean, > but much less expensive, and not copy-protected in any way). > > Peter > -- > Peter "Arrgh" Korn > korn@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU > {decvax,dual,hplabs,sdcsvax,ulysses}!ucbvax!korn Agreed that the font license problem with ADOBE fonts is a major hassle, but converting the Merc font library to PostScript is a awesome task which required a great deal of artistic, and creative input (translate not easily automated and extremely time consuming). Without the guarantee of a return on that investment there would simply not be as many fonts to chose from and not nearly the quality. Quality in this case is not something as easy to appreciate at 300 dpi as it is at 2540 dpi. Just so you know I'm not being insensitive to the pain of the situation, we have a RIP (Raster Image Processor) tied to Linotype L300 imagesetter. Because of board problems and imcompetent or lets be kind poorly prepared service personel, we have had to have the RedStone board replaced in the RIP 13 times...that's right, 13 times. RIP began to mean "Rest in Peace" around here! In fact the artists made a small grave yard mural above the machine in which they would paste little tombstones with the board replacement date inscribed whenever the Lino- tron serviceman came with our next board. In each case ADOBE replaced our fonts including the backup disks which you are intitled to if you send the card in which comes with the master set. We have over 30 ADOBE fonts! Let's see that's 30 X 13 X 2 =..... an extremely tiring process. Each set must be reinit'ed and installed on the RIP harddisk. One would think that you could transfer the ID PROM to the next board, but far be it from me to meddle (its under a service contract ...better they screw it up). Anyway...that's just the way it is. I went out to ADOBE last year to take their PostScript driver classes and ask the same questions that your asking. After seeing the font design studio and watching the labor that goes into a single character the stiff copy protection is understanding....not pleasant...but understandable. The Sonata font which was mentioned in another article is a unique, significant, and beautiful font which ought to be protected (if you're listening Cleo...nice work). Anyway, nuff said. 'These are only the shadowlands.' C.S. Lewis ----------------------------------------------------------------- CSNET: edwards@bgsu ARPANET: edwards%bgsu@csnet-relay UUCP: cbosgd!osu-eddie!bgsuvax!edwards ---------------------------------------------- US Mail: Ken Jenkins c/o Century Marketing Corp. 12836 S. Dixie Hwy. Bowling Green, OH. 43402 (800) 537-9429 or (419) 354-2591 ----------------------------------------------
chuq%plaid@Sun.COM (Chuq Von Rospach) (08/11/87)
>> I agree completely with Chuq on this one--it's one of the nastiest copy >> protections out there, impossible (so far as I've found) to defeat, and >> just generally downright obnoxious. Interesting coincidence. I read in Publish! last night that Adobe is dropping copy protection on their fonts (it was one of these "of course you already know this, but..." comments stuck in the middle of an article). Since this is the first I've heard of this, I'm wondering is Publish! is dreaming, or whether Adobe really is dropping protection and I just haven't heard. Can anyone (especially from adobe?) confirm or deny this rumor? chuq Chuq Von Rospach chuq@sun.COM Delphi: CHUQ We live and learn, but not the wiser grow -- John Pomfret (1667-17os k
alan@pdn.UUCP (08/14/87)
In article <402@aucs.UUCP> paul@aucs.UUCP (Paul Steele) writes: >I am posting this message on behalf of a professor in our French >department. He has recently purchased Adobe's Sonata font for use >with a laser printer. The license agreement states that it can only >be used on one laser printer. I guess that this is done by naming >...[deleted] >Paul H. Steele UUCP: {seismo|watmath|utai|garfield}!dalcs!aucs!Paul >Acadia University BITNET: {Paul|phs}@Acadia >Wolfville, NS Internet: {Paul|phs}%Acadia.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU >CANADA B0P 1X0 PHONEnet: (902) 542-2201x587 I developed an IBM-PC font initialization/installation program for Adobe Fonts while I was working for ScenicSoft in Seattle. This work was done under contract to Adobe Systems. Of course, I cannot comment on the technical details of the copy-protection scheme that Adobe insisted on incorporating into the product--besides, the Mac version may be somewhat different. However, we at ScenicSoft told Adobe repeatedly that their customers would complain. The case of customers who don't even own a laser printer never occured to us. But the problem of broken, stolen, "repaired", upgraded, destroyed or adulterated laser printers is obvious. There is also the problem of customers who own multiple printers--for which Adobe has a solution (?): font Master Disks that allow the customer to "initialize" fonts for upto 5 printers simultaneously. Such multi-printer font packages cost more, of course. Perhaps the professor should consider purchasing one of these (I realize that this is not the optimum solution). It could be that Adobe, who gets some (if not all) of their fonts from third parties, is REQUIRED by circumstances beyond their control to impose such onerous protection mechanisms on their fonts. --Alan
verber%tut.cis.ohio-state.edu@osu-eddie.UUCP (Mark A. Verber) (08/17/87)
I could be wrong, but I am under the impression that the copy protection scheme that Adobe is currently using will be dropped in the near future. This is most likely due to Adobe being responsive to the needs and desires of their customers. If this is true, I am much more likely to buy a few typefaces that I like. I haven't up till now because I don't own my own laser writer and switch between a number of different printers. Anyone from Adobe want to comment? Cheers, ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Science Department Mark A. Verber The Ohio State University verber@ohio-state.arpa +1 (614) 292-7344 cbosgd!osu-eddie!verber
brail@topaz.rutgers.edu (Greg Brail) (08/17/87)
At the MacWorld show, Adobe announced that they changed their font license
agreement. All new Adobe fonts will be shipped unprotected. If you purchased
an Adobe font less than 90 days ago, you can call them (1-800-29-ADOBE) and ask
for an unprotected version for free. If it was more than 90 days, you have to
pay about $50.
Personally, I'm glad they unprotected the fonts. Whether charging $50 to do so
is fair is a different matter however.
-Greg
--
Greg Brail UniPress Software
UUCP: {everywhere}!rutgers!topaz.rutgers.edu!brail Work: (201)985-8000
New-style domain stuff: brail@topaz.rutgers.edu Home: (201)846-3013lsr@apple.UUCP (08/18/87)
According to the premier issue of Macintosh Today, Adobe is dropping copy
protection on their downloadable PostScript fonts. The article says that
this announcement was supposed to be made at MacWorld Expo along with 6 new
typeface families.
BTW, Macintosh Today is the new Macintosh weekly, which premiered at
MacWorld.
--
Larry Rosenstein
Object Specialist
Apple Computer
AppleLink: Rosenstein1
UUCP: {sun, voder, nsc, mtxinu, dual}!apple!lsr
CSNET: lsr@Apple.comjww@sdcsvax.UCSD.EDU (Joel West) (08/19/87)
I saw it in a ppress release in one of the other trade journals.
--
Joel West (c/o UCSD)
Palomar Software, Inc., P.O. Box 2635, Vista, CA 92083
{ucbvax,ihnp4}!sdcsvax!jww jww@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu
or ihnp4!crash!palomar!joel joel@palomar.cts.com