[OpenFontLibrary] theleagueofmoveabletype.com is switching to the Open Font License

[ricardo lafuente]

Robert Martinez wrote:
> really cool!
> are other projects that might jump on the OFLB wagon before FF3.5 
> comes out?
> might turn out to be cool for everyone!

i'd say we could pitch this to most designers who release freeware 
fonts. A lot of them will probably not care or be scared of the 
derivative works provision. However, some might look at it the right way 
if the arguments for open-ness are well-articulated enough.

which reminds me, it would be nice to have a document with a good set of 
arguments clearing out that the OFL doesn't mean people will be able to 
'steal' your stuff any more than a proprietary license (it will actually 
make you more friends :)

if anyone's also up for it, i'd be interested in group-drafting a FAQ of 
sorts for designers who might be reluctant to step towards libre 
licensing of their work, clearing up common misunderstandings and 
allaying some fears they might have regarding that. And then we could 
get in touch with them, especially given that there's an expert PR 
person on the boat (go Dave :o)

out of my head, a few arguments:
* your work will be credited
* it would get much more visibility and respect than what the 'free 
font' websites give
* anyone who would steal or hijack an open font would do the same if it 
was freeware (or even proprietary, given that you can find 90% of 
commercial fonts on p2p -- not a safe argument but still)
* a good metaphor for being open is sharing your lunch and making 
friends, not opening your house to burglars (this one is *way* too 
common among designers, in my experience)
* and so on.

do you think building up this kind of traditional-designer-oriented 
argumentary makes sense?

quick list of designers that could later be approached:
* Jos Buivenga from exljbris (who releases some fonts as freeware as a 
marketing device for selling extended families)
* Manfred Klein
* Ray Larabie (the 'free font' legend, maybe he can be convinced to OFL 
some of his older creations?)
* Ellen Lupton (not a type designer, but Nicolas's enlightenment on the 
legal issues could work for OFL PR :)
* LettError (did some funky font experiments, again could be convinced 
to OFL some older stuff)
* Hoefler and Frere-Jones (this could be a long shot, but they've built 
such a huge collection of work that their older stuff could also be 
opened up)
* House Industries (same as previous)
* Underware (even a longer shot, but who knows what experiments they 
might have hidden in their drawers)
* ....

i'll shut up for now. Again, most are long shots, but if even one 
designer would consider it, that would be good enough. I would emphasise 
that stepping towards the traditional type designer world would be, 
IMHO, a good if not necessary strategic move for the OFLB and OFL 
awareness in general.

do let me know if it all sounds silly :o)