Monotype buys Extensis

Thomas Phinney

Monotype bought Extensis for their font/asset management. Extensis are the Portland-based makers of Connect—what used to be called Suitcase Fusion and Universal Type server.

https://www.monotype.com/company/press-release/monotype-announces-acquisition-extensis

Stuart Sandler

I'm not sure anybody realizes what a threat this acquisition is to their future income if you're not distributing your fonts via a Monotype platform. Comically Extensis has focused its marketing almost fully on espousing the worry to large companies getting sued for not having the correct licensing. Drawing a straight line connecting one to the other couldn't be more obvious.

Remember kids, the less places that surface your fonts means the less likely they are to be purchased or licensed and if the only Extensis search result for your font name is 'here's fonts similar to 'your font name' - expect less touch points for your work to get in front of designer's eyeballs, especially large organizations that use font management tools like Extensis solely. Admittedly great font management tools and now a direct sales pipeline to Monotype.

Mark Simonson

How many people still use Suitcase (i.e., Connect)?