FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.7.0"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0-b147)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 21.0-b17, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Linux XXX 2.6.40.4-5.fc15.x86_64 #1 SMP Tue Aug 30 14:38:32 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
In the class javax.swing.border.TitledBorder the method getTitleFont() does not have a default font if one is not specifically set in the constructor. Previous versions of Java returned a default font instead of null.

REGRESSION. Last worked in version 6u26


REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
TitledBorder b = BorderFactory.createTitledBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(new Color(0, true)), title);
b.setTitleFont(b.getTitleFont().deriveFont(Font.PLAIN, 10f));
---------- END SOURCE ----------