Apple-only License

SPDX Identifier: Not on SPDX

Quick Summary

macOS and iOS system fonts are licensed by Apple for use on Apple-branded hardware only. This includes legitimate Apple virtual machines like GitHub Actions macOS runners and MacStadium.

Permissions Overview

✅ Allows For

Context	Permission	Notes
macOS Apps	✅ With conditions	Must follow Apple guidelines
iOS Apps	✅ With conditions	System fonts available
Documents on Mac	✅ Full
Cloud macOS (GitHub Actions)	✅ Full	macOS runners are legitimate Apple hardware
Cloud macOS (MacStadium)	✅ Full	MacStadium uses Apple-branded hardware
Cloud macOS (AWS EC2 Mac)	✅ Full	AWS Mac instances are Apple hardware

❌ Disallows For

Permission	Notes
Desktop (Non-Apple)	Cannot install on Windows, Linux, Hackintosh
Web (Hosting)	Cannot use @font-face for non-Apple clients
Web (Subsetting)	Cannot subset for web distribution
Redistribution (Standalone)	Cannot distribute font files
Redistribution (Bundled)	Cannot include in npm/gem packages
Modification	Cannot edit font files
Resale	Cannot sell font files
Format Conversion	Cannot convert to other formats

Sample License Text

From formula: macos/hiragino

View Full License Text

For use on Apple-branded Systems

PLEASE READ THIS SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT (“LICENSE”) CAREFULLY BEFORE USING
THE APPLE SOFTWARE. BY USING THE APPLE SOFTWARE, YOU ARE AGREEING TO BE BOUND
BY THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE,
DO NOT INSTALL AND/OR USE THE APPLE SOFTWARE AND, IF PRESENTED WITH THE OPTION
TO “AGREE” OR “DISAGREE” TO THE TERMS, CLICK “DISAGREE”. IF YOU ACQUIRED THE
APPLE SOFTWARE AS PART OF AN APPLE HARDWARE PURCHASE AND IF YOU DO NOT AGREE
TO THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE, YOU MAY RETURN THE ENTIRE APPLE HARDWARE/
SOFTWARE PACKAGE WITHIN THE RETURN PERIOD TO THE APPLE STORE OR AUTHORIZED
DISTRIBUTOR WHERE YOU OBTAINED IT FOR A REFUND, SUBJECT TO APPLE’S RETURN
POLICY FOUND AT https://www.apple.com/legal/sales-support/. YOU MUST RETURN THE
ENTIRE HARDWARE/SOFTWARE PACKAGE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A REFUND.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To the extent that this software may be used to reproduce, modify, publish or
distribute materials, it is licensed to you only for reproduction, modification, publication and
distribution of non-copyrighted materials, materials in which you own the copyright, or materials
you are authorized or legally permitted to reproduce, modify, publish or distribute. If you are
uncertain about your right to copy, modify, publish or distribute any material, you should contact
your legal advisor.

1. General.
A. The Apple software (including Boot ROM code), any third party software, documentation, interfaces,
content, fonts and any data accompanying this License whether preinstalled on Apple-branded
hardware, on internal storage, on removable media, on disk, in read only memory, on any other media or
in any other form (collectively the “Apple Software”) are licensed, not sold, to you by Apple Inc. (“Apple”)
for use only under the terms of this License. Apple and/or Apple’s licensors retain ownership of the
Apple Software itself and reserve all rights not expressly granted to you. You agree that the terms of this
License will apply to any Apple-branded application software product that may be preinstalled on your
Apple-branded hardware, unless such product is accompanied by a separate license, in which case you
agree that the terms of that license will govern your use of that product.
B. Apple, at its discretion, may make available future upgrades or updates to the Apple Software for your
Apple-branded computer. Upgrades and updates, if any, may not necessarily include all existing
software features or new features that Apple releases for newer or other models of Apple-branded
computers. The terms of this License will govern any software upgrades or updates provided by Apple
that replace and/or supplement the original Apple Software product, unless such upgrade or update is
accompanied by a separate license in which case the terms of that license will govern.
C. Title and intellectual property rights in and to any content displayed by or accessed through the Apple
Software belongs to the respective content owner. Such content may be protected by copyright or other
intellectual property laws and treaties, and may be subject to terms of use of the third party providing
such content. Except as otherwise provided herein, this License does not grant you any rights to use
such content nor does it guarantee that such content will continue to be available to you.
2. Permitted License Uses and Restrictions.
A. Preinstalled and Single-Copy Apple Software License. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
License, unless you obtained the Apple Software from the Mac App Store, through an automatic
download or under a volume license, maintenance or other written agreement from Apple, you are
granted a limited, non-exclusive license to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software on a
single Apple-branded computer at any one time. For example, these single-copy license terms apply to
you if you obtained the Apple Software preinstalled on Apple-branded hardware.
B. Mac App Store License. If you obtained a license for the Apple Software from the Mac App Store or
through an automatic download, then subject to the terms and conditions of this License and as
permitted by the Services and Content Usage Rules set forth in the Apple Media Services Terms and
Conditions (https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/) (“Usage Rules”), you are granted a
limited, non-transferable, non-exclusive license:
(i) to download, install, use and run for personal, non-commercial use, one (1) copy of the Apple
Software directly on each Apple-branded computer running macOS Catalina, macOS Mojave,
macOS High Sierra, macOS Sierra, OS X El Capitan, OS X Yosemite, OS X Mavericks, OS X
Mountain Lion or OS X Lion (“Mac Computer”) that you own or control;
(ii) If you are a commercial enterprise or educational institution, to download, install, use and run
one (1) copy of the Apple Software for use either: (a) by a single individual on each of the Mac
Computer(s) that you own or c

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See Also

• Apple Software License Agreement
• Apple Fonts