Media: Russian OS was left without a Times New Roman font due to sanctions – RIA Novosti

09:1912.12.2016

(updated: 10:13 12.12.2016)

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MOSCOW, 12 Dec — RIA Novosti. the Russian Developer of operating system Astra Linux failed to obtain the rights to popular fonts, particularly standard documents, Times New Roman, because of the sanctions, reports “Kommersant” with reference to Director of the center “NGO Rosbiotech” and leader of team Astra Linux Yuri Sosnin.

the American company Monotype Imaging, which owns the rights to fonts such as Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, Times New Roman, and others, refused to sign the contract due to the fact that JSC “NPO Rusbiotech” cooperates with the Ministry of defence, the newspaper writes.

the Russian and the American company led the successful negotiations on how to include fonts in the domestic Astra Linux, but the deal fell through at the last moment. Monotype Imaging has invoked sanctions against companies that operate “in the interests of the defense Ministry.” The reason for this was found mention of the participation of “NGOs Rusbiotech” in the international air show MAKS, the article says.

According to sources, Monotype Imaging was initially not too interested in the transaction, assigning a “pretty high price”. According to one of interlocutors “Kommerant”, the company did not want to directly refuse, and hoped that the high cost of “scare” the Russian partners.

In the end, “NGOs Rusbiotech” together with “Paradip” developed counterparts in Times New Roman — public fonts PT Sans and PT Astra Astra Serif, says “Kommersant”. In Monotype Imaging on request newspaper about the failure of the transaction did not answer.

“NGO Rusbiotech” develops Astra Linux 2010. The operating system included in the registry of domestic software. The company’s main clients are the Ministry of defense, the Federal security service, Federal security service, foreign intelligence Service, Federal customs service and the Ministry of health.