Patent and Copyright Protection of Fonts
editIntroduction
editFonts and typefaces are the intellectual property of type designers who created them. [1] Stealing these fonts is known as digital font theft. This theft was increased by the growth of the Personal Computer and the Internet. [1] The Software Publishers Association, said that for each font sold, there are at least six illegal copies in use. [1] An ATypI (link), Association Typographique Internationale, member puts the figure at 20 or more for certain fonts. [1]
Typeface vs. Font
editA typeface is "a set of letters, numbers, or other symbolic characters, whose forms are related by repeating design elements consistently applied in a notational system and are intended to be embodied in articles whose intrinsic utilitarian function is for use in composing text or other cognizable combinations of characters." [2] On the other hand, a font, is "an article in which a typeface resides as the implement of printing technology, regardless of the medium or form. [3]
Copyright Laws
editThe Copyright Act of 1976 gives copyright protection to work defined as, “pictorial, graphic, and sculptural”. [4] "Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works” includes, two-dimensional and three dimensional works of fine, graphic, and applied art, photographs, prints and art reproductions, maps, globes, charts, diagrams, models, and technical drawings, including architectural plans."[5] A typeface or font does not technically fall under this description.[6]
Policy Issues
edit"A $2 million trademark and copyright infringement lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court, in October, by Font Bureau. The Boston font firm charged the NBC television network with neglecting to secure rights before using its fonts on The Jay Leno Show and Saturday Night Live. Font Bureau's action is a jarring wake-up call for graphic communication companies—publishers, printing firms, and even Internet media firms—to audit their font licensing practices. According to the suit, NBC used three of Font Bureau's trademarked typefaces in the network's fall marketing campaign. The broadcaster bought one software license, then widely distributed copies of Bureau Grotesque, Interstate and Antenna." [7] rewrite
See Also
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c d Karol, Michael. "ATYPI Aims To End Font Piracy". Graphic Arts Monthly. 1992
- ^ Lipton, Jacqueline "To © or Not to ©? Copyright and Innovation in the Digital Typeface Industry"
- ^ Lipton, Jacqueline "To © or Not to ©? Copyright and Innovation in the Digital Typeface Industry"
- ^ Copyright Laws of the United States. Circular 92. 2009
- ^ Copyright Laws of the United States. Circular 92. 2009
- ^ Copyright Laws of the United States. Circular 92. 2009
- ^ Haley, Allan. "Where Did You Get Your Fonts? A $2 million suit against NBC over three fonts is a reality check on managing licenses." 2009