How can I find which fonts are safe to use in a game?
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I recently learned that not all fonts included in Windows are usable in a game for legal reasons. So I want to know how I can find out which fonts are safe to use.
If you render the font into a bitmap (instead of using FreeType), then you can use any font you like.
If you render the font into a bitmap (instead of using FreeType), then you can use any font you like.
That isn't actually true, copyright applies to derived works aswell.
Using system fonts should be fine if you don't redistribute them though.
http://www.microsoft...ibutionFAQ.mspx
Q. Can I embed Microsoft fonts in my documents?
A. Embedding allows fonts to travel with documents. Most fonts distributed with Microsoft products allow embedding. To check a font's embedding permissions, right-click on the font file and choose 'Properties'.
There are 4 levels of embedding permissions:
'Print and preview' fonts can be embedded in a document, provided the user reading the document cannot edit the content of the document.
'Editable' fonts can be embedded within content that can be edited by the user.
'Installable' fonts within a document may be permanently installed by the user reading the document or a client application. In practice, installable fonts are treated like editable fonts by most client applications.
'No embedding permissions' prevent fonts from being embedded in a document.[/quote]
Now this may not be bulletproof in legal sense, but coming directly from Microsoft I find it good enough for me. If you plan to embed font (from any category except ' No embedding permissions') just make sure user cannot easily extract and install it.
To be extra sure, consult the individual copyright/license notices of font files (they should normally be embedded in TTF or there should be link).
I care to choose among fonts 'free for commercial' ( www.fontsquirrel.com is a good stop) but I'd really like a way to list fonts by license type in standart font dialogs :/
I recently stumbled upon this: http://www.google.com/webfonts , a really huge library of free and open-source fonts made available by google
These are 'optimized' for web-usage, but they're also great for games
These are 'optimized' for web-usage, but they're also great for games
I recently stumbled upon this: http://www.google.com/webfonts , a really huge library of free and open-source fonts made available by google
These are 'optimized' for web-usage, but they're also great for games
awesome resource. thanks!
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