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

[Christopher Fynn]

Rob Myers wrote:

> But see here:

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyrights#Typefaces

> "England recognized copyright in typeface at least as early as
> 1916.[14] The current United Kingdom copyright statute, enacted in
> 1989, expressly refers to copyrights in typeface designs.[15] The
> British law also applies to designs produced before 1989."

> The part of the act that deals with the artistic design of typefaces is here:

> http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/plain/ukpga_19880048_en_content.htm#pt1-ch3-pb7

> This does indeed mention 25 years.

> As for copyright on font programs, the code of the font is copyrighted
> the same as any other program. A font program will have the same
> copyright term as any other program AFAIK. And a software licence can
> be applied to it.

But, according to <http://www.gillhams.com/articles/352.cfm>, "typeface" 
refers to metal type - but  digital type is indeed an "artistic work".

- Chris

> This is a separate issue from copyright on the underlying typeface
> design. Most resources will talk about typeface designs when they
> actually mean font programs, and it's important to recognize when they
> are doing this.
> 
> - Rob.
> 
> On Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 10:43 AM, Christopher Fynn <cfynn at gmx.net> wrote:
>> 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.
>>
>> 
>>
>> - C
>>
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>