[Openfontlibrary] [Fwd: Re: "Fonts are protected are artistic works in the UK"]

[Christopher Fynn]

Dave Crossland wrote:
 > 2008/11/7 Christopher Fynn <cfynn at gmx.net>:
 >> From: <http://www.gillhams.com/articles/352.cfm>
 >
 > 
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/plain/ukpga_19880048_en_2#pt1-ch1-pb4
 > is the actual law, and confirms this copyright lasts for 25 years.
 >




But if a font is an "artistic work" then the link you gave says:

<<"copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work expires
at the end of the period of 50 years from the end of the calendar year
in which the author dies, subject to the following provisions of this
section.">>

and

<<"(3) If the work is computer-generated neither of the above provisions
applies and copyright expires at the end of the period of 50 years from
the end of the calendar year in which the work was made. ">>

Both sections say 50 years not 25


The following, which does mention 25 years, does not apply to a font as 
such:

<<"
Duration of copyright in typographical arrangement of published editions

Copyright in the typographical arrangement of a published edition
expires at the end of the period of 25 years from the end of the
calendar year in which the edition was first published.">>

That is for new typeset editions of otherwise out of copyright books.

<http://www.gillhams.com/articles/352.cfm> also says a digital font is
counted as an "artisic work" not a "typeface".

- C