EU Throws out Microsoft's Vista Font Trademark

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.

In case you didn't know

[Krach42]

Segoe [wikipedia.org] 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.

See for yourself

[Odin_Tiger]

Here's a side-by-side comparison [hardcovermedia.com] of the two fonts.

Re:Quick!

[Anonymous Coward]

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 [wikipedia.org]. 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.

Re:Segoe

[imboboage0]

Actually, i use Segoe UI for everything.

I have it set as Firefox's default font. I use it in my Winamp Playlist. It's my font for AIM. Looks great in titlebars. Creates very smooth looking tect on icons and the such. In fact' I'd recommend it for just about anything. All you have to do is turn on ClearType and tweak it. Bam. Good to go. I dunno how it looks to you, but it looks smooth to me.

Here's a couple screenies I took for ya. Agree or disagree; I still like it.
http://darkfiles2.servebeer.com/images/segoeui.png [servebeer.com]
http://darkfiles2.servebeer.com/images/segoeui2.pn g [servebeer.com]

Re:Penny wise, pound foolish

[ChildeRoland]

If they make 10s of millions of dollars at $0.01 each, that implies that billions of copies of Windows will be sold, which is very, very unlikely.

Re:In case you didn't know

[Plug]

Segoe UI is a ripoff of Frutiger Next.
Frutiger Next is an upgrade of Frutiger.
Adrian Frutiger [wikipedia.org] created the Frutiger typeface by updating the typeface he created for Orly Airport [wikipedia.org]. .: Windows Vista - O RLY?

Re:Helvetica is not like Arial

[r00t]

That sums it up if you read between the lines: Arial is the new and improved font which replaces Helvetica. Helvetica is obsolete because of Arial.

The "Grotesque" font, Arial's other ancestor, looks rather nice as well. I guess that was the attractive parent.

Pictures:

http://www.ms-studio.com/articlesarialsid.html [ms-studio.com]