Talk:GNU FreeFont: Difference between revisions
GPL applied to fonts? |
GPL applied to fonts? --- yes |
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What exactly does it mean for the GPL to be applied to a font? If you embed the font in a PDF file, is that considered a "derivative work" and the entire text of the document must be under the GPL? Or is embedding considered to be "mere aggregation"? [[User:69.17.96.185|69.17.96.185]] 16:36, 5 January 2007 (UTC) |
What exactly does it mean for the GPL to be applied to a font? If you embed the font in a PDF file, is that considered a "derivative work" and the entire text of the document must be under the GPL? Or is embedding considered to be "mere aggregation"? [[User:69.17.96.185|69.17.96.185]] 16:36, 5 January 2007 (UTC) |
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From [http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/20050425novalis]: |
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<blockquote> |
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The situation we were considering was one where a font was embedded in a document (rather than merely referenced). Embedding allows a document to be viewed as the author intended it even on machines that don't have that font installed. So, the document (a copyrighted work) would be derived from the font program (another work). The text of the document, of course, would be unrestricted when distributed without the font. |
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This isn't an artifact of the GPL; it's just the way fonts work. Proprietary fonts often explicitly forbid embedding. So, if you want to send your document off to a printing service, the printing service needs to buy another copy of the font. |
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</blockquote> |
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Some fonts, like URW++'s Base 35 use font embedding exception to the GPL, like this (URW Palladio L Roman): |
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<pre> |
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% Copyright (URW)++,Copyright 1999 by (URW)++ Design & Development |
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% (URW)++,Copyright 1999 by (URW)++ Design & Development |
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% See the file COPYING (GNU General Public License) for license conditions. |
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% As a special exception, permission is granted to include this font |
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% program in a Postscript or PDF file that consists of a document that |
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% contains text to be displayed or printed using this font, regardless |
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% of the conditions or license applying to the document itself. |
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</pre> |
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Revision as of 17:37, 20 January 2007
GPL applied to fonts?
What exactly does it mean for the GPL to be applied to a font? If you embed the font in a PDF file, is that considered a "derivative work" and the entire text of the document must be under the GPL? Or is embedding considered to be "mere aggregation"? 69.17.96.185 16:36, 5 January 2007 (UTC)
From [1]:
The situation we were considering was one where a font was embedded in a document (rather than merely referenced). Embedding allows a document to be viewed as the author intended it even on machines that don't have that font installed. So, the document (a copyrighted work) would be derived from the font program (another work). The text of the document, of course, would be unrestricted when distributed without the font.
This isn't an artifact of the GPL; it's just the way fonts work. Proprietary fonts often explicitly forbid embedding. So, if you want to send your document off to a printing service, the printing service needs to buy another copy of the font.
Some fonts, like URW++'s Base 35 use font embedding exception to the GPL, like this (URW Palladio L Roman):
% Copyright (URW)++,Copyright 1999 by (URW)++ Design & Development % (URW)++,Copyright 1999 by (URW)++ Design & Development % See the file COPYING (GNU General Public License) for license conditions. % As a special exception, permission is granted to include this font % program in a Postscript or PDF file that consists of a document that % contains text to be displayed or printed using this font, regardless % of the conditions or license applying to the document itself.