Open source specialist Red Hat has settled a lawsuit brought by
Agfa Monotype over alleged breaches of the font designer's
copyrights and trade marks. The leading Linux distributor has
recorded a $500,000 charge in obtaining a license to include the
fonts in future products.
The settlement was revealed in a recent filing by Red Hat with
the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The company was sued by
Agfa Monotype in May 2002 for copyright and trade mark
infringement, and again in December 2002, for violations of the
Lanham Act (which covers liability for unfair competition) and for
unfair and deceptive trade practices.
Red Hat counterclaimed, arguing that the copyrights and trade
marks were unenforceable or invalid, but last month reached a
settlement with the font designer.
According to the filing, Red Hat agreed to a deal which provides
a license to distribute a number of Agfa's commercial fonts for
five years. Red Hat reported that it has recorded a charge of
$500,000 in connection with the deal.
All claims relating to the case have now been dismissed.
