Microsoft's Calibri font could bring down a Prime Minister

[dexter]

Pakistan's PM is facing down a scandal hinging on the origins of one font.

Pakistan's government is in trouble. And its fate may hinge on a Microsoft font. Judicial investigators probing the financial assets of the country's Prime Minister and his family allege his daughter (and apparent successor) forged documents to hide her ownership of overseas properties. How did they reach that conclusion? The documents from 2006 submitted by Maryam Nawaz (daughter of PM Nawaz Sharif) were in the Calibri font. That font, according to the investigation team's leaked report, wasn't publicly available until 2007.

 

[VCheng]

That font, according to the investigation team's leaked report, wasn't publicly available until 2007.

Incorrect. It was available as TTF files for years before the commercial release as part of the new version of Windows, which happened in 2007. Using the font prior to that date was common, and did not need the commercial release.

 

[MastanKhan]

Incorrect. It was available as TTF files for years before the commercial release as part of the new version of Windows, which happened in 2007. Using the font prior to that date was common, and did not need the commercial release.

Hang down your head Tom Dooley
hang down your head and cry
Hang down your Dolley
Oh boy you bound to die

 

[The Sandman]

Incorrect. It was available as TTF files for years before the commercial release as part of the new version of Windows, which happened in 2007. Using the font prior to that date was common, and did not need the commercial release.

By the designer of Calibri Lucas de Groot

"As far as I know, the first public beta versions of Calibri were published in 2006. We do not know the exact date for this public release date [but] it is [still] extremely unlikely that somebody would copy fonts from a beta environment to use in official documents," it adds.

LucasFont's statement also holds weight given that beta versions of software are unfinished and in testing phase. Only people with an extra-ordinary interest in computer software usually subscribe to their use, as they potentially hold numerous undiscovered glitches that may interrupt their usage at any given time.

In a separate email, de Groot, the font designer himself, said that while in theory it would have been possible to create a document using Calibri in 2006, the font would have to be obtained from a beta operating system, "from the hands of computer nerds".


BUT!

"Why would anyone use a completely unknown font for an official document in 2006?" he went on to question.



De Groot said in his opinion the document signed by Maryam Nawaz was "produced much later, when Calibri was the default font in MS Word".


Source

@Arsalan @Imad.Khan @WAJsal @Zibago @PakSword

 

[VCheng]

it would have been possible to create a document using Calibri in 2006

Says it all. It is possible, the JIT report is incorrect in this regard.

 

[Ocean]

Says it all. It is possible, the JIT report is incorrect in this regard.

Not happening. Beta versions could be rejected or could not commercially launched if they do not turn out perfect in testing. So when a font is in beta testing even the designer does not know his font will be glitches free and will get launched or not.

A LEGAL FIRM now i REPEAT A LEGAL FIRM , of all the businesses, will be last one to use a beta version font about which it is not confirmed it will EVER BE commercially launched. Why? For the same reason that legal documents produced specially for high profile clients as politicians etc could be put to scrutiny or forensically analysed. Usage of any non commercially available font and that too one in BETA phase will put even a LEGIT and HONEST client's credibility AT RISK. So LAW FIRMS NEVER USE non commercially released fonts which could possibly be rejected and never commercially launched.

 

[VCheng]

Not happening. Beta versions could be rejected or could not commercially launched if they do not turn out perfect in testing. So when a font is in beta testing even the designer does not know his font will be glitches free and will get launched or not.

A LEGAL FIRM now i REPEAT A LEGAL FIRM , of all the businesses, will be last one to use a beta version font about which it is not confirmed it will EVER BE commercially launched. Why? For the same reason that legal documents produced specially for high profile clients as politicians etc could be put to scrutiny or forensically analysed. Usage of any non commercially available font and that too one in BETA phase will put even a LEGIT and HONEST client's credibility AT RISK. So LAW FIRMS NEVER USE non commercially released fonts which could possibly be rejected and never commercially launched.

Please do not confuse font files with the beta version of the operating system. They are two entirely different things.

 

[Ocean]

Please do not confuse font files with the beta version of the operating system. They are two entirely different things.

Ok i get the point i had missed that point from original post but the point still holds. Using fonts available Only in beta environment operating systems would put a question mark on clients credibility if the font does not get added in the final os launch.

 

[VCheng]

Ok i get the point i had missed that point from original post but the point still holds. Using fonts available Only in beta environment operating systems would put a question mark on clients credibility if the font does not get added in the final os launch.

The irrefutable point is that the font was available in public independent of the beta operating system. Capisce?

 

[Ocean]

The irrefutable point is that the font was available in public independent of the beta operating system. Capisce?

I never really was bothered about its availability whether through beta os or through ttf. All i said that legal firms, of all businesses are extremely mindful of fonts they use and almost same font is used for all documents issued to other clients. It is a professional law firm not some road side dhaba. if maryam nawaz law firm was using calibri as standard font then it should be used in ALL other documents issued by that firm to other clients. Even in colleges and universities students are instructed to use a standard font and every student has to submit projects in it.

Law firms deals with high profile clients who could possibly land in corruption scandals in future or get questioned and have documents analysed. A law firm using non consistent fonts for several of its clients is not even possible.

Read page 2 of this documents , it also clarifies how legal firms have a standard formatting is tructions given out to its lawyers https://www.law.georgetown.edu/acad...p/writing-center/upload/internationaltips.pdf

 

[VCheng]

I never really was bothered about its availability whether through beta os or through ttf. All i said that legal firms, of all businesses are extremely mindful of fonts they use and almost same font is used for all documents issued to other clients. It is a professional law firm not some road side dhaba. if maryam nawaz law firm was using calibri as standard font then it should be used in ALL other documents issued by that firm to other clients. Even in colleges and universities students are instructed to use a standard font and every student has to submit projects in it.

Law firms deals with high profile clients who could possibly land in corruption scandals in future or get questioned and have documents analysed. A law firm using non consistent fonts for several of its clients is not even possible.

Read page 2 of this documents , it also clarifies how legal firms have a standard formatting is tructions given out to its lawyers https://www.law.georgetown.edu/acad...p/writing-center/upload/internationaltips.pdf

Those are all reasonable arguments, but the fact remains that it was possible to use that font for that document on that date.

 

[Canuck786]

Okay guys don't speak the non factual stuff so many times that it would start to overshadow the fact. Although versions .90 and .98 were beta; version 1.0 was not rather it was the final version. Below is the information regarding that font as well. The court would have to consider whether it was possible to use that font or not. They would not get into the circumstantial aspect of it at this stage.