Re: Seeming hostility to conlang scripts?

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The core issue is if these scripts should be in Unicode in the first place.
I have yet to be convinced that these scripts (pIqaD, Tengwar, and Cirth)
are used in any contexts that aren't related to their universe/media of
origin.

And no it's not "nobody uses X, except for X's users", it's *when* are X's
users actually using it. Like is pIqaD only used when dealing with things
related to Star Trek? That doesn't seem like enough usage to me. One
again I say, it's not Monopoly in pIqaD, it's *Star Trek themed* Monopoly
in pIqaD.

Like only if we truly have reason to put in Unicode should we
consider potential copyright problems that might happen if we do such
a thing.

On Mon, Jun 8, 2026 at 3:57=E2=80=AFAM David Starner via Unicode <
[email protected]> wrote:

> On Mon, Jun 1, 2026 at 8:05=E2=80=AFAM Michael De Roover via Unicode
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> > The core issue, though, is institutional and legal, not a judgment abou=
t
> the
> > value of these communities. Unicode cannot standardize scripts that are
> > copyrighted intellectual property without explicit permission from the
> rights
> > holders. The Tolkien Estate, Paramount, and miHoYo all retain legal
> control
> > over their fictional scripts.
>
> We can acknowledge the risk without agreeing to the argument. In the
> US, scripts have explicitly been refused copyright protection. When
> Cyan tried to register the Myst D'Ni script, the US Copyright Office
> responded with a refusal letter explaining that writing systems are
> not copyrightable in the US. I am not familiar with any contrary
> decision in any country, though many do permit copyrighting typefaces,
> which the US does not.
>
> --
> The standard is written in English . If you have trouble understanding
> a particular section, read it again and again and again . . . Sit up
> straight. Eat your vegetables. Do not mumble. -- _Pascal_, ISO 7185
> (1991)
>
>

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<div dir=3D"ltr">The core issue is if these scripts=C2=A0should be in Unico=
de in the first place. I have yet to be convinced that these scripts (pIqaD=
, Tengwar, and Cirth) are used in any contexts that aren&#39;t related to t=
heir universe/media of origin.<br><br>And no it&#39;s not &quot;nobody uses=
 X, except for X&#39;s users&quot;, it&#39;s *when* are X&#39;s users actua=
lly using it. Like is pIqaD only used when dealing with things related=C2=
=A0to Star Trek? That doesn&#39;t seem like enough usage=C2=A0to me. One ag=
ain=C2=A0I say, it&#39;s not Monopoly in pIqaD, it&#39;s *Star Trek themed*=
 Monopoly in pIqaD.<br><br>Like only if we truly have reason to put in Unic=
ode should we consider=C2=A0potential=C2=A0copyright problems that=C2=A0mig=
ht happen if we do such a=C2=A0thing.=C2=A0</div><br><div class=3D"gmail_qu=
ote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Mon, Jun 8, 2026 at 3:57=E2=
=80=AFAM David Starner via Unicode &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]=
de.org" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div>=
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-=
left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">On Mon, Jun 1, 2026 at 8:=
05=E2=80=AFAM Michael De Roover via Unicode<br>
&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">unicode@c=
orp.unicode.org</a>&gt; wrote:<br>
&gt; The core issue, though, is institutional and legal, not a judgment abo=
ut the<br>
&gt; value of these communities. Unicode cannot standardize scripts that ar=
e<br>
&gt; copyrighted intellectual property without explicit permission from the=
 rights<br>
&gt; holders. The Tolkien Estate, Paramount, and miHoYo all retain legal co=
ntrol<br>
&gt; over their fictional scripts.<br>
<br>
We can acknowledge the risk without agreeing to the argument. In the<br>
US, scripts have explicitly been refused copyright protection. When<br>
Cyan tried to register the Myst D&#39;Ni script, the US Copyright Office<br=
>
responded with a refusal letter explaining that writing systems are<br>
not copyrightable in the US. I am not familiar with any contrary<br>
decision in any country, though many do permit copyrighting typefaces,<br>
which the US does not.<br>
<br>
-- <br>
The standard is written in English . If you have trouble understanding<br>
a particular section, read it again and again and again . . . Sit up<br>
straight. Eat your vegetables. Do not mumble. -- _Pascal_, ISO 7185<br>
(1991)<br>
<br>
</blockquote></div>

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