Are Type Fonts Registrable Designs?
Re Design Application No. 0040/04 et al. in the name of Microsoft Corporation [2007] ADO 1 Summary The Australian Designs Office (ADO) has refused registration of 24 design applications filed by Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) in respect of type fonts because a type font is not a registrable design under the old Australian Designs Act 1906 (the 1906 Act). Whilst decided under the now repealed 1906 Act, this decision may have application to the new Designs Act 2003 (the 2003 Act). Background to the judgement Microsoft filed 24 design applications under the 1906 Act for various designs in respect of type font. Each of the applications was objected to during examination on the basis that a type font was not a design that had been applied to an article.
