Thread: Legality of embedding fonts?
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Old 11-23-2009, 10:29 AM   #5
ahi
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Quote:
Originally Posted by djgreedo View Post
Does anybody have any thorough knowledge on the legality of embedding fonts in an ebook (either for free distribution, personal use, or commercial use)?
Don't assume that anything that somebody calls "embedding" is, in fact, embedding from a legal standpoint.

Throwing the font file into a zip file renamed .ePub is distribution by any common-sense assessment... and will almost certainly be perceived that way by lawyers.

The (slightly) more elaborate "embedding" employed by ePub is, to me, still embedding only by wishful thinking... but ultimately what matters is what your chosen font's licensor believes. Of course... you probably want to have that in writing, unless it is an already very publicly stated policy of theirs.

Quote:
Originally Posted by djgreedo View Post
I want to embed the Microsoft Calibri font (available in Windows and Office), and the licencing on the MS website says this:

The font in question is the 'editable' type. There is an implication in the above rules that 'editable' includes the 'print and preview' rights, in which case the font can be freely distributed in an ebook.

Is this correct?
No. I'm all but certain that this is wrong.

Editable fonts allow embedding. None of the permission types listed permit redistribution. Redistribution licenses might be obtainable, but would almost certainly be costly.

Furthermore the "permission" field in a font is not a legal contract or agreement... do not simply assume it is accurate, but rather seek confirmation of the font's legal status from the foundry/licensor.

Quote:
Originally Posted by djgreedo View Post
As a side note, I know there are public domain fonts, etc., but I have not found any that are even close to the quality of the fonts I like to use, and Calibri looks amazing on my reader.
Use Adobe fonts:

http://www.adobe.com/type/browser/info/embedding.html

Quote:
All Adobe Type Showroom fonts can be embedded in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files, as well as other types of electronic documents.
List of Adobe fonts by permission type:
http://www.adobe.com/type/browser/le...ddingeula.html

- Ahi
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