The Microsoft Typography group is pleased to host the first Font Business Summit organized by the Font Designers Rights Coalition. The event takes place on the 3rd and 4th of April at Microsoft's campus in Redmond, WA.

The event is open to type designers and foundries (by invitation). If you have not been contacted about the event and would like to attend please contact Janet@fdrc.org as soon as possible as there are only a handful of open slots available.

The program includes in-depth analysis of font related law from noted attorney Paul Stack who has represented Monotype for many years.

In addition there will be panel discussion regarding font IP protection, analysis of the state of font embedding, font EULAs and an exploration of new font related technologies, with participation from Adobe, Bitstream, and Microsoft representatives.

Hotel

The organizers have secured a conference rate accommodation at the Fairfield Inn located close to Microsoft. The $79 rate expires at the end of Monday March 17th, so book today.

Updated Schedule (subject to change)

Thursday, April 3rd

5:30 - 6:30 Registration at Fairfield Inn
14595 NE 29th Place, Bellevue, Washington

6:30 - 8:30 Keynote and Reception
Fairfield Inn - Summit Ballroom

Friday, April 4th

8:30 - 9:00 Coffee

9:00 - 10:15 An overview of font IP related law
Attorney Paul Stack, who has represented Monotype for many years provides an informative and entertaining overview of font related law as it relates to trademarks, copyrights and design patents, the protections afforded by each and how they help protect type designer’s work.

10:15-10:30 Typeface protection in Japan
Tomoko Nakatsuka of the Institute of Intellectual Property, Tokyo, will discuss the institutes research on typeface protection in Japan.

10:30 - 10:45 Coffee break

10:45 - 11:45 End User License Agreements (EULAs)
Presented by John Collins of MyFonts. Managing your EULA is not always easy, learn how the best EULA’s do it, from a distributor viewpoint.

11:45 - 12:30 Licensing fonts to software companies
Simon Daniels of Microsoft discusses new technologies, delivery platforms and devices which provide lots of font licensing opportunities, but can expose your IP to potential misuse.

12:30 - 1:15 Lunch, provided

1:15 - 2:30 IP enforcement panel:
Strategies for protecting your font IP

• Attorney Bill Ferron of Seed Law
  
• David DeWitt of Monotype
  
• Tom Phinney from Adobe
  
• Dr Jan Kaestner of Linotype

2:30 - 4:00 Fonts and the Web
Simon Daniels and Bill Hill of Microsoft and Thomas Phinney of Adobe on current issues around font embedding and linking on the Web.

4:00 - 4:15 Coffee break

4:15 - 5:00 Open Q&A, closing remarks

5:00 - 8:00 Closing reception

Time has been reserved at the end of each presentation for audience participation.

Thanks

Thanks to the ATypI, the TDC, Extensis, Bill Hill, Tom Phinney and Typophile for helping promote the event.

article posted 11 March 2008 and last updated 14 March 2008.