I haven’t yet explored the topic deeply, but in some article I read that when using non-standard fonts they are cut, and if you need to use it without rasterization, you will have to buy fonts (even such well-known ones like Tahoma be found in IT stores) . Correct me in the answer if I said nonsense.

The question is: is it possible to freely take any fonts from Windows/Fonts without copyright infringement and insert them into your site via @font-face ?

  • one
    Well, as far as I know, fonts have a distribution license, similar to program code, and so on. Look specifically at the license specific font. TNR does not seem to be distributed, Arial possible, and so on. - pavel
  • five
    You'd better ask a lawyer. If I say that it is possible, but in fact it is impossible, you will be imprisoned, not me. Ask a specialist better. - VladD
  • The meaning of inserting standard Windows fonts in @ font-face - Alexey Ten remains incomprehensible
  • Hmm, I look at the question really is relevant. - Side Gleb
  • @AlexeyTen, in Windows / Fonts, it is not necessarily just standard fonts. It turns out quite a working scheme - first install the necessary fonts on the computer, and then pick them up from Windows / Fonts: D - Xander

1 answer 1

For a start, it makes sense to look for suitable fonts and images distributed under free licenses. Their main feature is the ability to legally and free of charge use other people's works without violating the law. But, as in any licenses, they contain restrictions that are important to observe.

For example, the Creative Commons license without derivative works prohibits the distribution of derivative works, and the MIT license makes it necessary to publish the text of the license in all copies of works. It seems that you are suitable works under the licenses of "Creative Commons" of all kinds and "MIT".

Another way to solve your problem is the free use of other people's works. The easiest things to do with pictures. If you use them to illustrate “for the purpose of disclosing a creative intent,” retaining the author and indicating the source, and the volume of quotations is justified by his purpose, you will not break the law.

License Guide Creative Commons Licenses MIT License 1273 GK 1274 GK And the law also allows educational institutions to use materials from periodicals for non-commercial purposes. At the same time, the law does not limit this use to the maximum amount of citation. The need to refer to the author and the source of borrowing still remains.

More difficult with fonts. It's one thing to type a couple of letters or words to tell about its features in an article about the differences between serif and serif fonts. In my opinion, this is a classic version of citation for informational or educational purposes, which will not surprise either the right holder or the judge.

But it’s completely different - to type a headline or a couple of articles with paid font solely for the sake of your own sense of beauty. It seems to me that this is beyond the scope of free use and if something goes wrong, the court will not be on your side.

Perhaps the easiest and most reliable way to use paid fonts is to pay for them. Most likely, it is cheaper than you think - many copyright holders offer a discount.

Another way to solve the problem is to ask the author to give you the right to use a font or image for free. Surprisingly, in my practice the number of failures in such cases is less than positive responses.

1275 · 6 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation
The illegal use of other people's works is not only a loss of reputation and prestige, but also a blow to the wallet. The amount of compensation that the right holder will have to pay for infringement of the exclusive right - from ten thousand to five million rubles for each violation.

original

  • one
    It's funny that answering about license agreements on fonts, you pulled the text from another site, without even changing the face of the story ("Surprisingly, but in my practice") - despite the fact that there is no permission for such an action anywhere on that site. - Pavel Mayorov
  • so I indicated the source. The author has spoken out that he is not against the fact that he will be quoted, in the case of a reference to the original. Literate explanation in my opinion. Did not distort the text on purpose. - spectre_it
  • First of all, what you did was not quoting. Secondly, this site has its own license agreement, under which all questions and answers are published - and the author gave permission only for quoting, but not for publishing under another license. - Pavel Mayorov