Hi me new to this scene and still finding out answers about what's right or wrong in using fonts in my designs. Here is some of my questions:
1.) When a font author digitizes a font they really like from a fantasy book and they licenses it to Internet users. And I want to use the font for COMMERCIAL use, is it enough that I only deal with the "digital-font-author" or do I go directly to the "printed-book-font-author"?? Or need I contact them both before commercial use could be deployed?
1. Is there a EULA anywhere?
2. As long as the person who digitized the font did so with the blessing of the printed book author (illustrator I assume) then you only need to talk to the person who digitized the font.
3. Link to the digitized font?
I must say that I read Biffy's post, and was about to write a reply, then read the post again a couple of times and was left in a state of confusion.
Biffy, can you please be very clear about your situation: Where does this font come from? Is it already digitised? Is it commercially available? Is it freeware or shareware?
As long as the lettering is not a logotype (protectable by copyright) but simply lettering (not protectable by copyright), then you should only have to deal with the creator of the electronic version (aka, the font).
I'd agree with oldnick, but you'd have to trust that the person offering the font actually drew it from scratch, and didn't just open up an existing commercial version and re-name it.
Also think there are benefits in doing some research and trying to find a more original/professional version of the font if it exists. It will likely be better drawn and have better spacing than a re-digitization based on printed samples.
The Gothic font I want is:
English Gothic, 17th c. - Font by Lord Kyl MacKay
http://fonts.lordkyl.net/
This font was found in a book entitled "Medieval and Renaissance Alphabets". I converted it to a Windows True Type font with the method defined at this site and have made it available to the general public. The only string I am attaching is that you please mention me as the author of the font if you list it on your site, or you let me know how you use the font so I can admire your work!
Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997, Flight of the Dragon
I've been trying to reach him at his forum but he hasn't answered in like 2 months. Maybe I should try some other method, but first I wanted som answers from Typophile before doing that.
You might want to post a sample setting, along with this info to the type ID forum and the typorati will likely suggest some alternatives that have a license you can live with.
Captured from web.archive.org on 13 Oct 2013. view this capture