Typophile

How do I know if my font has been modified?

kosal

Many years ago I released a freeware font that allowed for commercial usage, but not any modifications.

I've seen it used by a company in a new line of products (printed handbags, umbrellas, etc) and it appears different — as if they put a 3pt stroke around it in Adobe Illustrator.

There's no way for me to know if they modified the font, creating a new font from it for use, or just simply added strokes in graphics software for print. I'm assuming the latter doesn't count.

Any advice on how to find out?

Hrant H Papazian

If you can show the exact steps (in a font editor) that replicate their exact results then you have a case.

BTW even if that's not what they did a properly written letter (preferably from a lawyer) proposing a -modest- settlement might just click.

hhp

kosal

I'll try it out myself later, but shouldn't the stroke effect mathematically be handled similarly regardless of the application?

Karl Stange

Any change to the font is important if you have not permitted it under the terms of your license agreement or general terms and conditions.

Most foundries seem to allow modification of outlines in a vector art programs like Illustrator, as long as that modification is not then re-introduced to the font.

Other foundries allow modification as long as the resulting modified font is used for internal business purposes only.

Some foundries do not allow any manipulation of the outlines, either within the context of the font or any mode of output.

If you are unhappy with the way in which the outlines have been used, whether modified within a font editing tool or a vector art program then, as Hrant suggests, you should try and contact them about the nature of the modifications and discuss whether some kind of deal can be worked out.

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