Re: [libreplanet-discuss] Properly attributing free fonts?

[Pen-Yuan Hsing]

Wow the font situation sounds like a big mess!! Thanks for explaining
a complicated situation as clearly as you can.

What do you think about using fonts in free software and free culture
works under the CC-BY-SA 4.0? Should I go for fonts under certain
licenses like GPLv3? And once I use those fonts, is it required by
some licenses to provide attribution in my works?

What can be done to clean up the mess?

On 02/11/2015, Thomas HARDING <tom@thomas-harding.name> wrote:
> On 02/11/2015 15:30, Pen-Yuan Hsing wrote:
>
>> Regarding that, I notice that in almost all cases, software (or any
>> other material like documents or posters) don't provide attribution for
>> the fonts they used. Is this normal? Or is this a matter of which
>> license the font uses? Is there a "proper" way to provide font
>> attribution, whether in a web page, document, or software?
>
> At least,
>
> I know for "Open Font Licence" a real nightmare to manage on a website,
> and I heard of that's worse regarding software. Because of credits and
> license are merged and there is a bunch of files.
>
> The only way has been to give a direct access to the font directory
> and a bunch of README files in, also plays a bit with robots.txt, where
> bandwith (home-hosting), then next upload "per Mb accounted" was really
> critical...
>
> Also, it has been difficult to figure how simple spins corrections has
> been derived versions or not, so leaving the 2 versions at option (size
> REALLY matter on hosting)...
>
> Moreover there is a versioning problem on some fantasy fonts (eg. an
> initial i "l with point" "as uppercase" turned next to I "typewriter
> style").
>
> I fully understand the need to rename derivatives (as for LaTeX packages),
>
> but fonts misses fair, good, consistent licences which allows
> unrepetitive credits and licence display (splitting credits/coyright and
> full licence text),
>
> AND also ensure only minor corrections with except for major releases
> WITH NAME CHANGE TOO (because what YOU type really matters as an
> artistic job. too).
>
> IMHO, one of the best gain with Free Software is, regarding any aspect,
> having something simple and consistent as licence management compared
> to proprietary software. If fonts fails to comply with that, turning
> font management a nightmare for developers and users, that's unproductive.
>
> As the mix they are between art and math/computing, that would be
> a great progress to solve that complex problem (marking derivatives,
> consistent versioning, "easy" credits "merging", and, splitted licence
> full text and notice as what this is done in GNU ones).
>
> At time, handling all that is turning your mind to a complete mess,
> with maybe for excerpt an exclusive use of "computer modern" <g>.
>
> --
> Je suis née pour partager : non la haine, mais l'amour.
>                                              Sophocle,
>                             "Antigone" --- 442 Av. JC.
> Two Steps From Heaven: Universal answer is Fortitude.
>