the state of fonts & font management - chicago idug

Presented by Jim Kidwell

The State of Fonts, Font Management & Web Fonts

Extensis •  Software for Creative Pros

•  Makes •  Suitcase Fusion

•  Universal Type Server

•  Portfolio Server

•  Serves Web Fonts •  WebINK

•  Around 20 years

We know fonts

Designers & Fonts •  Most use FM software

•  Many large collections

•  Largest 231,994 fonts

•  Average of 4,512 fonts

Font Managers from Extensis

Web Font Service

User Survey

Reveals Font Risks

Top Risks

•  Not understanding font EULAs

•  Using fonts for an unlicensed purpose

•  Transferring fonts improperly

•  Creating comps with unlicensed fonts

•  Improperly tracking

What could happen?

Really?

What has happened?

•  NBCUniversal sued for $3.5 Million (7/2012)

•  TBS & TitleBoy sued: destruction of materials (2/2012)

•  Microsoft sued for $1.4 Million (4/2013)

•  NBCUniversal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter sued

for $1.5 Million + destruction of materials (7/2011)

•  Mixpanel sued for $2.0 Million (3/2013)

•  Rick Santorum’s agency sued for $2.0 Million (8/2011)

Let’s talk EULAs

(licenses)

Designers don’t read licenses

17%

27%

29%

25%

Designers don’t read licenses

When we read them

28%

29%

21%

We are confused

And yet, we move onward Do you understand what you can do with the fonts that you license?

And yet, we move onward Do you understand what you can do with the fonts that you license?

So, what can you do?

Font Licensing Policies

1.  How do you buy new fonts?

2. How do you create comp?

3. Do you have existing procedures?

4. Who collects all the licenses, purchase

records?

Assess Your Existing Collection

1.  Do you have purchase records?

2. What are your rights and limits?

•  Number of licenses

•  Packaging, Logos, PDF embedding?

•  Web Font use?

•  Embedded into Applications?

Train Everyone

1.  Manager / Boss

2. Coworkers

3. New employees

4. External contractors

Track Usage & Respond

1.  Periodic reporting

2. Number of licenses required

3. New or expanded use types

4. Act on findings

Licensing: What can you do?

1.  Use a font manager & web font service

2. Create a font licensing policy

3. Assess your current collection

4. Train everyone

5. Track your usage

Demos

•  Suitcase Fusion 5

•  Universal Type Server 4

•  WebINK

Contact, Resources, Q&A Jim Kidwell, Extensis www.extensis.com @jimkidwell Font Management Best Practices Guides http://www.extensis.com/fmbpg

Font Licensing Survey Report http://www.extensis.com/font-management/survey-report-hidden-risks-font-misuse/

Fonts used in this presentation •  Rooney Pro from Jan Fromm •  Fresco Sans from OurType