Understanding Font Licensing: A Complete Guide for Designers

*OFL, Apache, and commercial licenses explained in plain English* Fonts feel like “just another design asset” until the day a client asks, “Are we allowed to use this?” or a legal team flags your marketing site because someone dropped a trendy typeface into a brand kit without checking the license. This guide explains the most common font licensing models designers run into, how they work in real projects, and what to watch for so your work stays clean, professional, and compliant. --- ## Why font licensing matters more than you think A font file is software. And like software, it comes with rules. Those rules determine things like: - Can you use the font in a logo? - Can you send the font files to a client or printer? - Can you put the font on a website or in an app? - Can you modify the font and ship the modified version? - Can you bundle the font inside a template, game, or product you sell? Most licensing mistakes are not malicious. They happen because font usage spans multiple environments and each one can require different rights. --- ## The core font licensing buckets ### 1) Open source font licenses These are designed to encourage sharing, broad use, and redistribution under specific conditions. Common examples: - SIL Open Font License (OFL) - Apache License 2.0 (less common for fonts, but it exists) - Other permissive licenses in some cases ### 2) Commercial font licenses These are sold by foundries and marketplaces. They typically offer different “seats” or “usage types,” sometimes as separate add-ons: - Desktop license - Webfont license - App or game license - Server license - Broadcast license - Ebook license ### 3) Subscription licenses You do not buy the font. You rent access to it. - Great for speed and variety - Risky if you need permanent rights long-term - Requires careful planning for handoff and archival --- ## OFL explained: the designer-friendly open font license The **SIL Open Font License (OFL)** is the most common open license for fonts, especially those found on Google Fonts. ### What OFL usually allows - Use the font commercially or personally - Use in print, branding, packaging, UI, and websites - Embed in documents (PDFs, presentations, ebooks, etc.) - Bundle with software, as long as license terms are followed ### The big OFL rule you must know If you **modify** an OFL font and redistribute the modified font, you typically must: - Rename the font (so it cannot be confused with the original) - Include the OFL license text with it This protects the original authors from getting blamed for issues in modified versions. ### Common OFL designer scenarios **Can I use an OFL font in a logo?** Usually yes, but the logo itself is not the font. You are using the font to create artwork. **Can I send the font file to the client?** If the font is OFL, generally yes. Include the license file and do not strip attribution. **Can I edit glyphs and ship the modified font?** Yes, but you need to follow the rename requirement and include the license. --- ## Apache License 2.0: permissive, but read the details Some fonts are released under the **Apache License 2.0**. It is widely used in software and occasionally used for fonts. ### What Apache 2.0 generally allows - Commercial use - Modification - Redistribution - Bundling in products ### The Apache details to watch - Preserve copyright notices and the license text - If a project includes a `NOTICE` file, keep it with distributions For most designers, Apache-licensed fonts behave similarly to OFL in day-to-day use, but the obligations are about keeping notices intact rather than renaming on modification. --- ## Commercial font licenses: where things get specific fast Commercial licenses are not one-size-fits-all. Two fonts from two different foundries can have totally different rules even if they cost the same. ### Common commercial license types #### Desktop license For creating static designs: - Print work - Logos and brand assets - Packaging - PDFs (sometimes allowed, sometimes requires embedding rights) Desktop licenses often define limits like: - Number of users (seats) - Number of computers - Whether contractors are covered #### Webfont license For use on websites, typically via: - WOFF/WOFF2 hosted files - Self-hosted webfont kits - Third-party hosting Pricing is often based on: - Monthly pageviews - Number of domains - Traffic tier A desktop license does not automatically allow webfont usage. That is one of the most common mistakes. #### App or game license For embedding fonts into: - iOS/Android apps - Desktop apps - Games - Devices This often includes rules about: - Number of installs - Distribution platforms - Whether the font is embedded as a file or subset #### Server license For fonts used in server-side rendering: - Generating PDFs dynamically - Creating images on the fly - Document automation pipelines If your product generates documents for users, you may need this. #### Broadcast license For TV, streaming, film, large-scale ads, or motion graphics. Even if you are “just using it in After Effects,” the distribution format matters. --- ## A quick cheat sheet: what you can usually do | Use case | OFL | Apache 2.0 | Commercial | |---|---:|---:|---:| | Print design | Usually yes | Usually yes | Depends on desktop license | | Logo / branding | Usually yes | Usually yes | Often yes, check terms | | Website use | Usually yes | Usually yes | Needs webfont license | | App embedding | Usually yes | Usually yes | Needs app license | | Modify and redistribute font | Yes with rename | Yes with notices | Often restricted | | Share font files with client | Usually allowed | Usually allowed | Often not unless licensed | “Usually” is doing work here. Always check the actual license text for the font you are using. --- ## The hidden traps designers run into ### Trap 1: “Free for personal use” This is not open source. It usually means: - No commercial use - No client work - No branding - No monetized YouTube thumbnails - No paid product packaging If a font says “free for personal use,” treat it as a red flag for professional work. ### Trap 2: Desktop license used as webfont Designers often download a font, install it, and assume that covers the website. It usually does not. Serving a font on the web means distributing the font file to every visitor’s browser. Licenses treat that differently. ### Trap 3: Contractors and agencies A license may cover one company but not external contractors. If a freelancer touches the font file, the license may need to cover them too. ### Trap 4: Templates and resale products If you sell: - Canva templates - Figma templates - PowerPoint templates - Wedding invitation packs - UI kits Bundling fonts is a separate question. Many commercial licenses restrict redistribution in template products. ### Trap 5: “I converted it to outlines so it’s fine” Outlining text in Illustrator creates vector shapes, not a font file, so it can reduce some distribution issues. But it does not automatically solve licensing. If a license prohibits logo use, outlining does not magically make it legal. --- ## How to stay compliant without slowing down your design flow ### 1) Keep a font license log per project A simple list works: - Font name and version - Source (foundry, marketplace, repo) - License type - Allowed usage (desktop, web, app) - Link to license text or invoice When a client returns six months later asking for a web refresh, you will thank yourself. ### 2) Separate “design fonts” from “production fonts” Sometimes you explore concepts with whatever helps creativity, then lock final production fonts based on licensing and budget. That keeps early exploration fast while keeping final deliverables safe. ### 3) Treat web, app, and broadcast as separate line items If your client has a logo, website, and app, assume there may be three different licensing needs. ### 4) Use trusted sources Good sources reduce licensing ambiguity: - Foundry sites - Reputable marketplaces - Established open font repositories Random “1000 free fonts” sites are where licensing goes to die. --- ## Practical examples ### Example: You design a brand identity and the client wants a website - Desktop license covers your design work - Webfont license may be needed for the live site - If the client also wants a mobile app, add an app license ### Example: You download an OFL font and tweak a few letters - You can use it in your brand work - If you ship the modified font file, rename it and include the OFL license ### Example: You are delivering files to a printer - Sending PDFs is usually fine - Sending raw font files depends on the license - If it is commercial, the printer may need their own license or you may need a special clause allowing output vendors --- ## What to look for in a font license before you commit Scan for these terms: - **Desktop**: seats, computers, company size - **Web**: pageviews, domains, self-hosting, WOFF/WOFF2 - **Apps**: embedding rules, installs, platforms - **Redistribution**: template products, bundling, client handoff - **Modification**: allowed or prohibited - **Trademark**: name restrictions, especially for modified versions - **Attribution**: whether you must credit the creator If any section is unclear, treat it as “not allowed yet” until you confirm. --- ## Final thoughts: licensing is part of craft Picking type is design. Licensing it properly is professionalism. A clean workflow is simple: - Choose fonts intentionally - Confirm rights for where the font will live - Document decisions - Hand off responsibly Your future self and your clients will have fewer surprises, and you will be able to scale design work without fear of compliance chaos.