Hello experts,
I got a question from some people that are using a typeface that comes pre-installed on MacOS, so they never directly acquired a license for it. Now they want to use that typeface to make physical letters for educational purposes. Do they need to acquire a license for this? Or is the license already covered by Apple? Any help/pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Best,
Jasper
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Comments
It's not clear what is meant by "use that typeface to make physical letters for educational purposes". Do they want to print letters at large sizes to put up on a classroom wall?
But Apple’s license terms change as updates are released, so whoever you talk to there might not give you the correct answer. I would contact whoever designed/publishes the typeface so that they can tell you exactly what their terms with Apple are.
The typeface isn't mine, and the people aren't my clients. I was just trying to help them answer this question, and realized that I didn't have the answer, so came to ask for help here. I'd say you've given them all they need
I am pretty sure that is nonsense. Both Microsoft and Apple allow embedding their bundled system fonts in PDF, last time I checked. Ditto the fonts bundled with Microsoft Office apps.
You may well be right. I was taking a cautious and pessimistic view, noting what could reasonably be expected to be permitted even before one checks properly by reading the license.
I think Monotype has restrictive licenses for their fonts (no use on websites or apps), and this works like a Trojan horse for their enterprise licensing offers.
Subject to the terms of this License, you may use the Apple Font solely for creating mock-ups of user interfaces to be used in software products running on Apple’s iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS or watchOS operating systems, as applicable. The foregoing right includes the right to show the Apple Font in screen shots, images, mock-ups or other depictions, digital and/or print, of such software products running solely on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS or watchOS. Your use of the Apple Font shall also be subject to any specific use restrictions with respect thereto as set forth in the Apple Font or Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines.
It contains a clearly limited license to use the fonts if it is for the purpose of creating mock-ups for macOS or iOS (watchOS, etc.) app concepts. It doesn’t allow use for educational or other purposes.
The license is included with the font when you download it. That’s not the same as “preinstalled on the system”, but my interpretation is that the license concerns the font itself, not the delivery format.
You are right, the license depends on the font manufacturer. Apple plays a role as distributor through its operating system, but it is not the creator of all fonts that it distributes.
Apple doesn’t put all fonts that “come with the OS” into the same category. I’m sure their differentiation between “preinstalled fonts”, “document fonts” and “downloadable fonts” plays a role in different types of licenses. Apple doesn’t clarify this on their listing page, but since “document fonts” come with apps like Pages and Keynote, I would assume they may also be used to print out your documents.