Using OSX supplied fonts for commercial work

Question

Level 1

5 points

Using OSX supplied fonts for commercial work

I am trying to find definitive information on the legality of using fonts supplied with OSX in commercial work - which would include the embedding of the fonts in documents hosted online (ebooks, PDF for example), embedding in PDF files sent to commercial printers.

Apples legal terms in section 2E state 'you may only embed fonts in content if that is permitted by the embedding restrictions accompanying the font in question. These embedding restrictions can be found in the Font Book/Preview/Show Font Info panel.'

In section 15A Third Party Acknowledgments it states 'Portions of the Apple Software may utilize or include third party software and other copyrighted material. Acknowledgements, licensing terms and disclaimers for such material are contained in the electronic documentation for the Apple Software, and your use of such material is governed by their respective terms.'

For example, the font Euphemia UCAS shows under Embedding in Font book, No embedding restrictions, and Copy Protected No.

Under section 2E this would imply you can embed and use the font.

It is a 3rd party font/software copyrighted to Tiro Typeworks - does this still apply?.

Section 15A mentions the licensing terms etc are contained in the documentation for the Apple software -

Question 1 is Where is this information?

Question 2 is: Fonts that are 3rd party copyrighted - are these covered in the overarching statement in section 2E 'you may use the fonts included with the Apple Software to display and print content while running the Apple Software; however, you may only embed fonts in content if that is permitted by the embedding restrictions accompanying the font in question.'. i.e. can you use 3rd party copyrighted Fonts in commercial work produced on your Apple device, or are they subject to individual terms and permissions from the 3rd party copyrights holders?

Thanks

Noel

MacBook Pro (M3, 2023)

Posted on Aug 1, 2024 6:56 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Kurt Lang

Level 9

72,217 points

Aug 1, 2024 8:16 AM in response to Repro-Noel

Under section 2E this would imply you can embed and use the font.

It is a 3rd party font/software copyrighted to Tiro Typeworks - does this still apply?

The font's author/owner determines what copyright info is displayed, not Apple. So yes, for this font, you are free to use it embedded without restriction. And as written, it does not have to be a subset. Looking further with FontLab, the legal use is as follows:

Installable mode means you can also send the font to a publisher (if they don't already have it). They don't need to own their own legal copy in order to use it.

Nearly all of the fonts included with the OS belong to third parties, and font copyright can be a real can or worms. If you ever have any doubt about how the restrictions read, contact the foundry directly and ask them.

Reply