Embedding Fonts

users
#1

Did a search and all I found was some mumbo jumbo about legality.

There are no laws against embedding fonts in documents so you can keep using
the same font across system units.

If a person has purchased a font for their use, then they are allowed to
embed that font into their documents.

I just think that y'all are too lazy to incorporate embedding into your
software. All other office suites do it. As far as I have found, only Open
Office and Libre Office are the only office that won't incorporate font
embedding.

Thus, get font embedding incorporated. It ain't that difficult.

rmfr

#2

There are no laws against embedding fonts in documents so you can keep using the same font across system units.

Copyright law, and licensing rules come into play here.

If a person has purchased a font for their use, then they are allowed to embed that font into their documents.

That literally depends upon what the terms of the license that the font
is sold/leased under state.

Commercial foundries typically have licensing for:
* Desktop use only;
* Document embedding only;
* Internal document use only;
* External document use only;
* Intra-web use only;
* World Wide Web use only;
* ePub use only;
* PDF use only;

Use the font for a purpose for which one does not have a license, and
you face a lawsuit that at best, you lose.

I just think that y'all are too lazy to incorporate embedding into your software.

Font licenses are so tricky, that if you don't have a lawyer explain
just what your license allows, you will violate the license. No ifs,
ands, or buts.

I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice.

jonathon

#3

Hi,

Have you tried File -> Properties -> Font Tab -> Embed fonts in the
document (available in Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw - did not try Base).

Rémy Gauthier.

#4

Did a search and all I found was some mumbo jumbo about legality.

There are no laws against embedding fonts in documents so you can keep
using
the same font across system units.

If a person has purchased a font for their use, then they are allowed to
embed that font into their documents.

I just think that y'all are too lazy to incorporate embedding into your
software. All other office suites do it. As far as I have found, only
Open
Office and Libre Office are the only office that won't incorporate font
embedding.

Thus, get font embedding incorporated. It ain't that difficult.

First, LibreOffice DO have font embedding: just look at File → Properties →
Font tab → check "Embed fonts in the document".

Second, it seems you are not aware of the legal mess that font licensing
can bring to the table. Most proprietary fonts do NOT allow redistribution,
and embedding a full font on a text document (which is NOT the same that
embedding a subset on a PDF) IS redistribution. So, depending on the
foundry you get your fonts from, embedding could be illegal.

Third, there are several ways to embed a font, and some of those ways may
have patents associated with them so they cannot be freely implemented.

So yes, there ARE laws preventing the embedding of certain fonts, and no,
there is no laziness on trying to avoid font embedding, so please check the
license of the fonts you use before sending them to anyone else. In fact,
please check font licenses before USING them on any document. Good luck
with that.

Regards,
Ricardo

#5

I remember this "argument" in the 1990's with what I was working with back then.

I have an Adobe font collection, but I tend to use either MS core fonts or some good free fonts.

Here is what I did back then and now - if there is a specific font that is NEEDED in the document, I make sure the users of the documents will have the links to download the fonts they need. Then it is up to "them" to deal with the licenses.

#6

The easiest way to avoid any problem is to use only free-licensed
fonts, which specifically allow embedding. There are hundreds of
high-quality fonts licensed under the SIL Font License or with the GPL
exception available today.

If you are still thinking in terms of proprietary fonts, this table
might be useful:

http://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Blogs/Off-the-Beat-Bruce-Byfield-s-Blog/Free-equivalents-for-standard-proprietary-fonts

If anyone has any additions, I will update the table to keep it current.

o ___o
Bruce Byfield (on Pacific time) 604-421-7189
Writer of "Designing with LibreOffice"
www.designingwithlibreoffice.com