[OpenFontLibrary] Open Font License FAQ updated!

Dave Crossland dave at lab6.com
Mon Aug 23 08:25:37 PDT 2010


Hi!

Version 1.1-update2 of the OFL-FAQ is now finalised and published on
http://scripts.sil.org/OFL  (as a separate text file) and on
http://scripts.sil.org/OFL-FAQ_web  as a webpage.

There is now a WOFF entry:

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Question: 2.2 Can I make and use WOFF (Web Open Font Format) versions
of OFL fonts?

Answer: Yes, but you need to be careful. A change in font format
normally is considered modification, and Reserved Font Names (RFNs)
cannot be used. Because of the design of the WOFF format, however, it
is possible to create a WOFF version that is not considered
modification, and so would not require a name change. You are allowed
to create, use and distribute a WOFF version of an OFL font without
changing the font name, but only if:

the original font data remains unchanged except for WOFF compression, and
WOFF-specific metadata is either omitted altogether or present and
includes, unaltered, the contents of all equivalent metadata in the
original font.
If the original font data or metadata is changed, or the WOFF-specific
metadata is incomplete, the font must be considered a Modified
Version, the OFL restrictions would apply and the name of the font
must be changed: any RFNs cannot be used and copyright notices and
licensing information must be included and cannot be deleted or
modified. You must come up with a unique name - we recommend one
corresponding to your domain or your particular web application. Be
aware that only the original author(s) can use RFNs. This is to
prevent collisions between a derivative tuned to your audience and the
original upstream version and so to reduce confusion.

Please note that most WOFF conversion tools and online services do not
meet the two requirements listed above, and so their output must be
considered a Modified Version. So be very careful and check to be sure
that the tool or service you're using is compressing unchanged data
and completely and accurately reflecting the original font metadata.

Question: 2.3 What about other webfont formats such as EOT/EOTLite/CWT/etc.?

Answer: In most cases these formats alter the original font data more
than WOFF, and do not completely support appropriate metadata, so
their use must be considered modification and RFNs may not be used.

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Thanks to Nicolas Spalinger for all his great work on the SIL OFL :-)

Cheers
Dave


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