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It's not just tech companies. The BBC has commissioned a typeface[1] for their massively varied output, to cut down on licensing costs. [1] https://www.bbc.co.

It's not just tech companies. The BBC has commissioned a typeface[1] for their massively varied output, to cut down on licensing costs. [1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/gel/articles/introducing-bbc-reith https://www.bbc.co.uk/gel/articles/introducing-bbc-reith

baxtr 8y ago
Aren't the fonts Google provides free of charge? At least for web-design?
- johneth 8y ago
  They use it in multiple languages (World Service), mediums (TV, online, print), and use-cases (serious for news, legible for preschoolers learning to read, edgy for comedy trailers, etc.), for which the web fonts may be too limited or restrictive in number and variation of styles or characters. It's also an opportunity to brand something as uniquely theirs, unlike a Google web font that anybody can use.
  - niklasrde 8y ago
    Just to note, that print here refers mostly to advertising and corporate brochures. We do have magazines and merchandise for some franchises, but as far as I know, those were secondary when it came to BBC Reith/Reith Sans. TV & Online are big, and especially when it comes to legibility across resolutions and encoding systems (PAL/NTSC/SD/Pixel Ratios/HD/4K/Mobile/High-DPI..)
- hrktb 8y ago
  By curiosity, are they guaranteed to be free forever ? I know that the current licensing is as open as it can be, but if Google or the actual legal owner changes its mind, will the current users need to go through a clearing of everything they have that uses the font ? I would guess there’s no guarantee, and wouldn’t take that risk if I was in the BBC.
  - ishitatsuyuki 8y ago
    Open source licenses have no expiry date and allows free redistribution, thus what is currently available will remain free for good.
gadders 8y ago
"For the BBC to remain a vital and relevant digital service in an increasingly busy marketplace, we need to appeal to as many people as possible. Having a broader range of expression and visual tonality allows us to stand out in a crowd and aid recognition." I love designer talk.
- jrockway 8y ago
  It's true, though. Fonts have a very strong visual impact. And every single letter you write adds to and reinforces the impact. I think designers are on to something when they say to use a custom font to promote the brand. It's something that's both low-key and high-impact.
niklasrde 8y ago
ITV & Sky have theirs, too.
ry4nolson 8y ago
Even CapitalOne bank has their own font: http://mtaylordesign.com/optimist/ http://mtaylordesign.com/optimist/
52-6F-62 8y ago
The New York Times has a whole suite of them: https://fontsinuse.com/tags/758/the-new-york-times https://fontsinuse.com/tags/758/the-new-york-times

baxtr 8y ago

Aren't the fonts Google provides free of charge? At least for web-design?

johneth 8y ago
They use it in multiple languages (World Service), mediums (TV, online, print), and use-cases (serious for news, legible for preschoolers learning to read, edgy for comedy trailers, etc.), for which the web fonts may be too limited or restrictive in number and variation of styles or characters. It's also an opportunity to brand something as uniquely theirs, unlike a Google web font that anybody can use.
- niklasrde 8y ago
  Just to note, that print here refers mostly to advertising and corporate brochures. We do have magazines and merchandise for some franchises, but as far as I know, those were secondary when it came to BBC Reith/Reith Sans. TV & Online are big, and especially when it comes to legibility across resolutions and encoding systems (PAL/NTSC/SD/Pixel Ratios/HD/4K/Mobile/High-DPI..)
hrktb 8y ago
By curiosity, are they guaranteed to be free forever ? I know that the current licensing is as open as it can be, but if Google or the actual legal owner changes its mind, will the current users need to go through a clearing of everything they have that uses the font ? I would guess there’s no guarantee, and wouldn’t take that risk if I was in the BBC.
- ishitatsuyuki 8y ago
  Open source licenses have no expiry date and allows free redistribution, thus what is currently available will remain free for good.

gadders 8y ago

"For the BBC to remain a vital and relevant digital service in an increasingly busy marketplace, we need to appeal to as many people as possible. Having a broader range of expression and visual tonality allows us to stand out in a crowd and aid recognition." I love designer talk.

jrockway 8y ago
It's true, though. Fonts have a very strong visual impact. And every single letter you write adds to and reinforces the impact. I think designers are on to something when they say to use a custom font to promote the brand. It's something that's both low-key and high-impact.

niklasrde 8y ago

ITV & Sky have theirs, too.

ry4nolson 8y ago

Even CapitalOne bank has their own font: http://mtaylordesign.com/optimist/ http://mtaylordesign.com/optimist/

52-6F-62 8y ago

The New York Times has a whole suite of them: https://fontsinuse.com/tags/758/the-new-york-times https://fontsinuse.com/tags/758/the-new-york-times