Using a font licensed under Apache License, version 2.0 in commercial vector artworks

[Jack Walker <ja...@gmail.com>]

Hi,
Sorry for bothering you, but I'm a bit confused about font licensing.
I'd like to know if I can use a font licensed under Apache License, version
2.0
(for example, Open Sans by Steve Matteson) for my purposes.
I want to use it for my vector illustrations that I intend to sell and get
royalty for them.

The font will be the part of my illustrations and used as titles (Sample
Text, Lorem ipsum, etc.),
paragraphs, etc. The font will be outlined, i.e. I will only use it as
outlined vector graphic
(font will be converted to curves) inside my illustrations.

Also, as I'm selling only eps and jpg files, I have no option to include
any txt files,
any license files along with my product -  and that's the main question as
I know that attribution is required:
Can I write the text on my vector artworks using the font licensed under
Apache License, version 2.0 that will be outlined (i.e. converted to vector
too) and sell my artworks without any link, any mentioning of the fact that
I'm using the font licensed under Apache License, version 2.0?
Is it legal?

I've read Apache License, version 2.0, I've checked the whole
http://mail-archives.apache.org/ page, but I haven't found a proper answer
for my specific question.
Hope you can help me.

Thank you so much for your time!
Best regards,
Jack

Re: Using a font licensed under Apache License, version 2.0 in commercial vector artworks

[Stian Soiland-Reyes <st...@apache.org>]

Hi!

Just my take, not an expert. I'll let others chip in.

If you are using the font to produce graphics (bitmap or vector), then you
are not redistributing the Apache-licensed font. I would say this is not
even making a derivative work, unless your graphic is basically every
letter of the alphabet in all font weights and styles.

Fonts are weird - they are a bit like a picture, but also a bit like a
program, as they include rules for tweaking their appearance depending on
letter combinations and font sizes.

The Apache license does not apply to the outcome of running an
Apache-licensed program. However it does apply to the object form, so if
you redistribute the fonts in any format, the license would apply, e.g. if
you embed the fonts in a PDF.

Nevertheless, provided the author has not given a NOTICE file you need to
propagate, then there is no requirement of attribution in the "object
form", only "source form" (e.g. if you make a new, derived font) would need
to include such.

The only requirement then, say for the PDF case where you embed the font
file, is to include the Apache license, I believe you can do that using the
metadata of the format. Note that the Apache license is not "viral" and
does not have to apply to your part of the derived work.

On 6 May 2016 2:46 p.m., "Jack Walker" <ja...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
> Sorry for bothering you, but I'm a bit confused about font licensing.
> I'd like to know if I can use a font licensed under Apache License,
> version 2.0
> (for example, Open Sans by Steve Matteson) for my purposes.
> I want to use it for my vector illustrations that I intend to sell and get
> royalty for them.
>
> The font will be the part of my illustrations and used as titles (Sample
> Text, Lorem ipsum, etc.),
> paragraphs, etc. The font will be outlined, i.e. I will only use it as
> outlined vector graphic
> (font will be converted to curves) inside my illustrations.
>
> Also, as I'm selling only eps and jpg files, I have no option to include
> any txt files,
> any license files along with my product -  and that's the main question as
> I know that attribution is required:
> Can I write the text on my vector artworks using the font licensed under
> Apache License, version 2.0 that will be outlined (i.e. converted to vector
> too) and sell my artworks without any link, any mentioning of the fact that
> I'm using the font licensed under Apache License, version 2.0?
> Is it legal?
>
> I've read Apache License, version 2.0, I've checked the whole
> http://mail-archives.apache.org/ page, but I haven't found a proper
> answer for my specific question.
> Hope you can help me.
>
> Thank you so much for your time!
> Best regards,
> Jack
>