Hi all,

 

I'm currently creating a logo for a friend's small business. I don't have any skill with designing typography so I've used the Giddyup Regular font for the design (arranged and modifies slightly). I believe this font comes with the Adobe CS software, and I can't find any clear details about the license restrictions.

 

Does anyone know the legal implications of using a well-known font like this for a commercial logo? I know there are plenty of logos by major companies who use Helvetica, but do they have to pay the copyright holders for it?

 

Thanks,

Zach

You need to check the licence attached to the font.

In this case the font belongs to Adobe so the chance of being able to use it for commercial purposes is very slim.

 

Have a look through here, it may be of use http://www.adobe.com/products/eulas/

 

 

As long as you own a desktop version of the font and are only providing your client with source files that have been turned to outlines (no embedded fonts) you'll probably be okay. Like Mike said, you need to check the license, but the majority of fonts allow you to create works providing you don't share a version of the font itself that a non-owner could access and use.

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

Hmmm... interesting. Unless I'm missing something on the link you sent me Mike, the license is pretty relaxed on that font.

 

Porkchops, so what you are saying is as long as I don't make the entire font range available for download or copy I should be okay?

Porkchops, so what you are saying is as long as I don't make the entire font range available for download or copy I should be okay?

 

Pretty much. If I was to purchase a font and use it in a logo, I'd be completely fine if I provided the client with a PNG and EPS copy with the font converted to outlines.

 

If I provided a PDF with the font embedded or used @font-face on their website to make their logo, I'd likely be violating the license unless otherwise stated since a clever user could figure out how to get the font from the PDF or website and use it on their own machine.

 

Also, if you ever hand off a print piece, logo, web comp, etc. that uses that font you need to make sure you aren't handing off the font, too. You don't want to send your client a brochure design and package the font with it, that's technically distributing the font and violates the license.

Great, that's good news. Thanks Porkchop!