Are you referring to some of the freetype font hinting which is
patent
encumbered? If so, a rpmfusion package is available for that. Ubuntu hasn't
done any specific patching in that area afaik.
Well that is not true , they patched cairo , freetype, libXft with
patented bytecode hinting , please check that topic
http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=186789
Regards,
D.