Those agreements will vary among fonts and among font makers – so read them very carefully to understand what you can and cannot do with the fonts you’re licensing.įor example, some agreements will restrict the number of computers on which you can install a font. Your rights and obligations are defined in the End User License Agreement (EULA).
Whether you pay for a font or acquire it for free, each font comes with a license that explains how you may use that font (and how you may not use the font). How do you acquire a license to a font?įonts can be free or licensed, for a fee, for commercial use. The software that tells your display or printer to show a letter in “Helvetica” is the font. Variations of Helvetica, such as Helvetica Regular, Helvetica Italic, Helvetica Bold, etc. Technically, a “font” is a computer file or program (when used digitally) that informs your printer or display how a letter or character is supposed to be shown.Ī “typeface” is a set of letters, numbers and other symbols whose forms are related by repeating certain design elements that are consistently applied (sometimes called glyphs), used to compose text or other combination of characters.Īlthough many people would call “Helvetica” a font, it’s actually a typeface. Background Info on Fonts, Typefaces and Copyright Law How is a font different from a typeface? Let’s look at the law of fonts and typefaces and answer the most common questions agencies, designers, and marketers ask about using fonts in designs and marketing projects. After all, most lawyers don’t understand design or marketing.įar too many designers and marketers incorrectly assume that they can freely use any typeface or font for logo design or any other design project.Įven design and marketing agencies often run afoul of font law and expose themselves and their clients to legal liability. The truth is that most people, and especially designers and marketers, do not understand the law governing the use of typefaces and fonts.
The right typeface is often the key to strong brand identity, a well-designed website, sharp looking brochures, and strong marketing materials.īut there’s much confusion and misinformation about typefaces, fonts and how designers and marketers can lawfully use them commercially.
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