http://sourceforge.net/projects/freetype/files/freetype2/2.4.0/NEWS/view


 I. IMPORTANT CHANGES

    - Since May  2010, all  patents  regarding  the TrueType  bytecode
      interpreter have expired worldwide.  Consequently, we now define
      TT_CONFIG_OPTION_BYTECODE_INTERPRETER by  default (and  undefine
      TT_CONFIG_OPTION_UNPATENTED_HINTING).

Formally a big step, practically most linux distro
have bytecode interpreter enabled from long time.


-- 
luigi