Neverside

Copyrighted fonts... Can I use them?

THIS IS NOT WAREZ RELATED!!!

Ok, I've seen many fonts our there that say they are copyrighted and not to be used for commercial use but may be used for personal use. What if I was creating a logo or something and distorted the font a lot or changed it completely, would that not be allowed?

___________________

halo2 <3

Well, if you changed it completely, then it's not the same font.

This is a strange one, morally (and probably legally, as well) -- the truth of it is that most people will not realize that you've used some particular font if it's changed enough, but you will. And there will probably be some people out there who will be able to identify the base font, but unless you've designed something as iconic as the IBM logo, or Google, or something, then it's unlikely that you'll ever be called to task for your theft. But for the amount of work that actually goes into creating a font -- the spacing, the letterheight, the curves and proportions, most fonts are pretty cheap to buy, and if the business you're designing for is smart, they'll either ask you to use a free font, or they'll pay for the use of the font in your design.

Once again, I'd say most people in the world couldn't identify the actual name of more than 3 fonts, and many of them couldn't name more than one, so that already limits the number of people who will even be concerned that your logo looks like some other lettering they've seen before.

And to make a long post even longer -- if you really need some lettering and you like the look of a particular font, try making something similar yourself -- for a logo you most likely won't need the entire alphabet. (and of course then you'll realize the work that goes into creating a font, as well).

/windbag

Can you provide the exact wording in the font's terms of use? Usually what they mean is that you can't sell the font.

I think it would be rare to find a font designer who would specify that the font can't be used on a commercial site, but maybe you've found an exception.

^wrong. Why? Because that would mean you can sell font that are available for free. That's like picking up free perfume samples and selling them, not allowed. And because use implies much more than having the font on your computer.

"Use" means using it in for instance a logo. So if you use someone's font in something that will make money (not just selling a logo with the font, but also tshirts with that font, etc), you have to pay the creator.

Would you like it if people started making money of something you created, without you getting a dime? I don't think so.

___________________

Blog / Lab

A large proportion of free fonts are restricted to non-commercial use. Your only choices are either to buy a paid font, which will probably allow you to use it however you want, find a free and unrestricted font, or not use your logo commerically. If you don't know whether or not your logo will be used commercially, it's a better idea to err on the safe side. It's not just a question of someone catching you, it's also a question of respecting the author's wishes. After all the hard work put into creating the font, it's the least you can do.

Last edited by nano, June 7th, 2005 04:08 PM (Edited 1 times)

Are you guys telling me all the work you do for people you bought all the fonts you used on the given projects? I have been wondering about this same thing constantly, what if when I do this the person sees it and sues me.

___________________