Blatant rip-off: a story

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Jasper de Waard
Jasper de Waard Posts: 647
in Type Business
Hi people!

I saw a van with a logo that looked like it used my Proza Display. I like it when my typefaces are used. I was happy.

I checked their website and saw that my typeface had been butchered. I emailed the company to ask who designed this. Not so happy.

Designer got back to me. Told me I was mistaken. Told me I could not even recognize my own typeface. He had used an entirely different font called Xillian. Uhoh...

I compared the outlines of Xillian and Proza Display Bold. Some letters perfectly overlapped, some with a few tweaks, and some quite different (e.g. M and N, the most ugly ones). Overall: clear rip-off.

I googled Xillian. Turns out this dude is actually pretending that he made a typeface. And he's even selling the 'full version' (whatever that means) for $50.

It's so ugly. So badly done. So pathetic.

What to do, what to do...

Xillian: https://www.behance.net/gallery/135423081/Xillian-Font-Free-Download
Proza Display: https://bureauroffa.com/about-prozadisplay

Comments

  • Jasper de Waard
    Jasper de Waard Posts: 647
    I commented this at the Behance page

    This is a blatant ripoff of Proza Display Bold. Some letters contain small changes (e.g. e, w), some are an exact copy (e.g. z), and some have been butchered into something different (e.g. M). I have spent literally years designing Proza Display. You did not even think to credit me, which indicates to me that you know what you did is illegal and unethical. Please remove this font from your Behance, any other channels that you use, and all the free font websites where it is currently available. Also, don't ever do this again.

    So who knows how long the above link will continue to exist. Enjoy it while it lasts!
  • Jasper de Waard
    Jasper de Waard Posts: 647
    Some examples with Xillian in the background and Proza Display Bold on the foreground. My guess is that the small differences in curvature or node placement are mostly due to rounding and scaling up/down. 
  • Adam Ladd
    Adam Ladd Posts: 276
    edited 12:45AM
    And he's even selling the 'full version' (whatever that means) for $50.
    FYI: Couldn't find your Behance comment to counter this (latest at top is from 2024)... does the profile owner have the ability to delete?

    Regarding above... some of the comments state:

    "Beautiful font! Any update on when we can expect puncution? I'm using this for a brand but feeling limited! Thanks for all your work!"

    "Really nice font, thank you for sharing! Is there an available license with german letters (ä ö ü ß...)?"

    Perhaps this suggests some of what's been stripped away compared to their for-sale 'full version' of it? 
  • Ray Larabie
    Ray Larabie Posts: 1,463
    Perhaps this suggests some of what's been stripped away compared to their for-sale 'full version' of it? 
    I wonder if it was ripped from a subset webfont.

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