Font License Guide
This guide explains font licenses, their permissions, and how to determine what you can do with a font.
Quick Reference
| Category | Icon | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source |  | Fully open licenses (OFL, Apache, MIT, etc.) |
| Freely Distributable |  | Free to redistribute with conditions |
| Platform Tied |  | Limited to specific platforms (macOS, Windows) |
| Bundled Software |  | Comes with specific software |
| Unknown |  | License not specified in formula |
License Categories
Open Source Fonts
Fonts licensed under open source licenses that generally allow:
- ✅ Free use (personal and commercial)
- ✅ Redistribution
- ✅ Modification
- ✅ Web embedding
- ✅ Subsetting
Available Licenses:
| License | Identifier | SPDX |
|---|---|---|
| SIL Open Font License 1.1 | OFL 1.1 | OFL-1.1 |
| Apache License 2.0 | Apache 2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| MIT License | MIT | MIT |
| BSD License | BSD | BSD-3-Clause |
| CC0 / Public Domain | CC0 1.0 | CC0-1.0 |
| Public Domain | Public Domain | Not on SPDX |
| CC-BY 4.0 | CC BY 4.0 | CC-BY-4.0 |
| CC-BY-SA 4.0 | CC BY-SA 4.0 | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Ubuntu Font License 1.0 | UFL 1.0 | Ubuntu-font-1.0 |
| GUST Font License | GUST | Not on SPDX |
| GNU LGPL | LGPL | LGPL-3.0 |
| GNU GPL (Font Exception) | GPL | GPL-3.0 |
| IPA Font License | IPA | IPA |
| Bitstream Vera License | Bitstream | Bitstream-Vera |
| Freely Usable | Free to Use | Not on SPDX |
Freely Distributable
Fonts that can be redistributed under specific terms:
| License | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Web Fonts EULA | Unlimited redistribution (not for profit) |
| Freeware | Free for personal use, redistribution restricted |
Platform Tied
Fonts that come with specific platforms:
| License | Description |
|---|---|
| Apple-only | Licensed for use on Apple-branded systems only |
Bundled Software
Fonts that come with specific software:
| License | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Software License | Bundled with MS Office/Windows |
| Adobe Software License | Bundled with Adobe products |
| Software Bundle License | Bundled with other software |
Unknown
| License | Description |
|---|---|
| License Not Specified | No license info in formula |
Usage Contexts
Different licenses permit or restrict different usage contexts:
| Context | Description |
|---|---|
| Academic | Use in educational institutions, research, thesis |
| Non-commercial | Personal projects, hobby use |
| Commercial (Static) | Creating static artifacts like PDFs, images for sale |
| Commercial (Server) | Dynamic artifact generation on servers |
| Web (Hosting) | Self-hosting WOFF/WOFF2/SVG fonts |
| Web (Subsetting) | Subsetting for web performance |
| Modification | Editing glyphs, customization |
| Redistribution | Distributing font files (standalone or bundled) |
| Format Conversion | Converting TTF ↔ WOFF ↔ WOFF2 |
How to Determine Font License
Step 1: Check the Formula
Each formula page shows:
- License badge (if detected)
- License URL (if provided)
- Copyright notice
- Any license agreement text
Step 2: Visit the Homepage
The formula includes a homepage link. Visit it to find:
- Official license information
- Usage terms
- Contact information
Step 3: Check the Font Files
Font files often contain license metadata:
bash
# Using otfinfo (install via lcdf-typetools)
otfinfo --info Font.ttf | grep -i license
# Using fonttools
ttx -t name Font.ttf | grep -i licenseStep 4: Contact the Foundry
If unclear, contact the font creator:
- Foundry website
- Email from formula homepage
- GitHub repository (if available)
Reporting License Issues
If you find incorrect license information:
- Open an issue on GitHub: https://github.com/fontist/formulas/issues
- Include the formula name
- Provide correct license information with source
We take license accuracy seriously.