3 ms·

Curious how font ownership works, especially with pixel fonts. If I make my own font from scratch, and it matches per-pixel an already-created font, is it mine

Curious how font ownership works, especially with pixel fonts. If I make my own font from scratch, and it matches per-pixel an already-created font, is it mine or theirs?

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
CharlesW 4y ago
This seems like a fairly comprehensive answer: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/fonts-faq/part2/ http://www.faqs.org/faqs/fonts-faq/part2/ "First, the short answer in the USA: Typefaces are not copyrightable; bitmapped fonts are not copyrightable, but scalable fonts are copyrightable. Authorities for these conclusions follow."
- nerdponx 4y ago
  An IP lawyer once explained to me that "fonts" are copyrightable because they are technically computer programs, and computer programs are copyrightable. I actually find it odd that "typefaces" are not copyrightable, but I think that's more of an historical quirk than some wise feature of the legal system.
  - CharlesW 4y ago
    > An IP lawyer once explained to me that "fonts" are copyrightable because they are technically computer programs, and computer programs are copyrightable. Yes, and if you’re interested in learning more, the link above goes into considerably more detail than my excerpt on why scalable fonts/typefaces (typically used interchangeably, though technically a typeface is generally a family of fonts) are copyrightable in the US while bitmapped fonts/typefaces are not.
  - slim 4y ago
    that's more of an historical quirk perfumes and recipes are not copyrightable either. It's because theses issues have been setteled in court in better times before media got in bed with politicians and lobbied til they got their monopoly
    - mminer237 4y ago
      Isn't that because copyrights protect creative works in a tangible form? Perfumes are instead physical compositions; and recipes are functional, not just creative.

3 ms·

Curious how font ownership works, especially with pixel fonts. If I make my own font from scratch, and it matches per-pixel an already-created font, is it mine

by mysterydip 4y ago

Curious how font ownership works, especially with pixel fonts. If I make my own font from scratch, and it matches per-pixel an already-created font, is it mine or theirs?

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
CharlesW 4y ago
This seems like a fairly comprehensive answer: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/fonts-faq/part2/ http://www.faqs.org/faqs/fonts-faq/part2/ "First, the short answer in the USA: Typefaces are not copyrightable; bitmapped fonts are not copyrightable, but scalable fonts are copyrightable. Authorities for these conclusions follow."
- nerdponx 4y ago
  An IP lawyer once explained to me that "fonts" are copyrightable because they are technically computer programs, and computer programs are copyrightable. I actually find it odd that "typefaces" are not copyrightable, but I think that's more of an historical quirk than some wise feature of the legal system.
  - CharlesW 4y ago
    > An IP lawyer once explained to me that "fonts" are copyrightable because they are technically computer programs, and computer programs are copyrightable. Yes, and if you’re interested in learning more, the link above goes into considerably more detail than my excerpt on why scalable fonts/typefaces (typically used interchangeably, though technically a typeface is generally a family of fonts) are copyrightable in the US while bitmapped fonts/typefaces are not.
  - slim 4y ago
    that's more of an historical quirk perfumes and recipes are not copyrightable either. It's because theses issues have been setteled in court in better times before media got in bed with politicians and lobbied til they got their monopoly
    - mminer237 4y ago
      Isn't that because copyrights protect creative works in a tangible form? Perfumes are instead physical compositions; and recipes are functional, not just creative.