Font Sharing (Copyright) info all should know

[cpc]

I am just as addicted to FONTS as I am die cutting (soon to be digital cutting), but we need to remember that all fonts have their own rules ~ just like any kind of software, clip art, music and artistry.

I am not an authority, but I have done a little reading over the years ... I have also made fonts in the past ~ you never know when one might show up here! Anyway ...

~~~> If I have missed a point or incorrectly defined; please let me know so I can update this post to reflect the most accurate information possible.

FYI: "author" also implies "creator" / "designer" / "original compiler"

We often go to FREE FONT SITES to get our fix! Did you know the fonts are not always free? Just because you are able to download for free does not make it so. You should always read the text file that accompanies your font file to make certain or the website it came from or go to the creator's website to learn more.

Some fonts are FREEWARE; this means you are free to use and / or share with anyone; some authors require a link or an acknowledgment of some type if used in web design or other Internet artistry.

Some are SHAREWARE; It often deals with distribution; some are free to share, but you still have to buy it if you use it and if your pal uses it as well, you pal needs to buy it too. Some shareware is free, not all. Some shareware requires the author of the font to be "asked" or notified if allowing others to obtain it from your website. BTW, they also have FREE fonts atMyFonts.com too. DaFont.com is another great FREE place to download.

Some are PAY FONTS: I have purchased a few (okay more than a few) in my time. Lettering Delights and their sister site are GREAT for getting CHEAP fonts ($0-$3.00). But, did you know that "GIVING / sharing / loaning / trading" them to your pal is ILLEGAL? How would you feel if you created that file and you were not getting your dues? You'd be mift!

When I have a few spare dollars, I like to shop at MyFonts.com. They are pricier, but high quality!

Again, just because you buy a font does not mean the author does not have certain rules for use. For instance, lets say QuicKutz (fab die maker) was going to introduce a new alphabet so they could mass produce it on dies (so anyone could die cut it) and they will make lots of money from it. They would need a license from the font author. They pay a higher amount than the average u-n-me for the legal right to profit from the use of the author; everybody wins.

It is pretty much the same principle when it comes to the digital die "cutting files" that some of the authors submit for free and for sale; every author has their own stipulations, rules, etc. Play by the rules and EVERYBODY WINS!

I hate to be a downer, but when designing the digi cut files ~ make sure you are not using clip art or fonts that say you can not resell their creations or altered creations ~ nobody wants to get messed up in a copyright infringement battle!

[Paperthreads]

There is actually a fine line and difference when using fonts in a design. Typically, the copyright for a font is in the fact that you can not sell or redistribute the font as a font, or as plain full set of letters.

Use of a font in your title on a design or in your design itself is TYPICALLY not copyright able. It's a highly disputed thing in the courts, and every time, the font foundry's have lost, with the courts saying that yes, they can copyright a font set, but if that font has been distributed, and then someone that has used the font LEGALLY in their design, either through a purchase or through a shareware or freeware, then it's within their rights to use the font in a design or activity, even if it is a commercial venue. Newspapers, magazines and ad agencies use them all the time in this manner in a commercial endeavor. I worked as an ad agent for a newspaper, and we were well versed in what we can and can't do with a font.

What they can't do is distribute the letters as just plain alpha letters, unless it specifically implies that you have full use to do so. So, in other words, if we sell the "alpha" sets in the store they have to be distributable for commercial purposes in the terms of use, even though they are no longer in TTF format.
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[Paperthreads]

OH, and just to CLARIFY, the statements made above ONLY refer to fonts that were created and developed in the United States, as it is a US Copyright issue, not a global one. If the font originates in the European nations, then it follows under the EU copyright guidelines, and in that case, the first post would be accurate in that you would have to get permission to use the font in a commercial endeavor.

Also, NO font should ever be shared peer to peer without checking the copyright on it, which is why we have the Font section, where we share links to the font location, but not the fonts themselves.

[scramper75]

Thanks for more information on this Michelle. I have only used my fonts for my own use in scrapbooks but have also used them on cards which I do give out. BUT there may come a time when I will do more.

[cpc]

Excellent follow up, Administrator! You are so right! :)

I tend to respect the font makers' rules regardless of the courts (saying we don't have to). I come from an artistic family with life long affiliations in a community of artists and have learned through the years to respect anyone's creation; be it a painting, photograph, graphic art, collage, paper crafting, digital graphics (including clip art), songs, clothing designs, etcetera and even fonts.

I see fonts as scalable art; be it letters and numbers or graphics and drawings (not necessarily letters & numbers). I know the courts do not see it that way. I realize I can not expect others to share my high standard; especially if the courts give carte-blanch (sp?) to users; I'm okay with that.

What irritates me is when folks will obtain fonts (legally & illegally) and give them (distribution) to their friends (so they do not have to pay); same thing with music files ... that's why I ~RARELY~ give the fonts I made away. Although, I still may place one or two up here for grabs (carte-blanch use) ~ everyone here in the PT community has been so nice.

~ my original post was in the font section and someone requested it go to the copyright section ~ sorry :eek:

[Paperthreads]

No reason to apologize :) This is the best place for it, because it's where people go when they are unsure of copyright.

I don't know if the Font Foundries will every be able to get the regulation they want, but I can tell you in most cases, I can find a similar font or a good enough font to do what I want.

And in the case of these cutters, typically, there are many fonts that don't work well in the cutter, such as my Cherish.ttf that I used for my Kanji set. That font was really jagged and messy, and it took hours recreating something similar to it but something that cut smoothly in comparison.

We do promote sharing font locations, and we discourage sharing of fonts. I was recently in a Yahoo group for fonts, I was on that group for about 3 days...then I looked at the posts, realized many were copyright fonts that were being shared directly, so I quit the group.

[cpc]

You did a FANTASTIC job on your Kanji files! The font looks GREAT in the photos!! :):)

Off topic ... I am so excited about you cutting a few of my sample sheets (from another post) before I buy a machine from you ~ that is so C:cool::cool:L!

I mailed it Tuesday or Wednesday, it came back Thursday, re-sending today (Friday). If I were a pirate, I'd say "Arrrrg"!

Anyway, I appreciate you doing that (in advance) ~ We're loading up the cart in anticipation of good results!

[kathlynn]

to see this post! I have had the hardest time with some people who want to "share" their "good fortune" with me. They will pass a font on to me saying someone did it for them. Most of the time it's a commercial font! I even ended up in a discussion on another board about the newest font release from QK Jolly. I'm not sure why people seem to think it's not stealing when it comes to sharing fonts that have to be bought in the first place. Thanks so much for posting this. I appreciate that there are others who feel the same wayA-Ok
Kathy