What the font?

I realize my title is an already existing web app by myfonts.com that helps you identify fonts, but it's just too perfect that I couldn't pass it up as a title. -- Props to the copywriter who thought of that one. 

Today my goal is to lay the groundwork for publishing my two beloved fonts, Coalescent and Fingerprint. Essentially I want to sell them so I need to know how to properly license them as well as find websites that will host them. I would hate to see my lovingly created fonts sit dormant on my hard drive waiting for the day I need to use them for an appropriate project. I'd much rather see them put to good use. Here I will log my research on how to publish and sell fonts. 

The first useful article I found was Font Licensing and Protection Details. It goes over basic font use and licensing and I learned that whenever a font is acquired (purchase, downloaded as freeware, etc.), the user is bound to the end user license agreement (EULA).  Essentially this means that they cannot distribute or share the font with other computers even if owned by the same owner, unless specified in the license. Apparently I also need to consider how to protect my fonts. There are trademarks, design patents or copyrights. Trademarks only cover the name of the font forbidding anybody to create a font under the same name. Design patents, though they are the rarest due to cost and effort, protects the physical anatomy of the letter forms and design. Then there are copyrights which are apparently "the most commonly used type of protection, but has also been the most vague and difficult to enforce." Essentially fonts files (TrueType or PostScript) are considered computer software and are protected as such. 

Now that I have some background knowledge on font licensing, Where can I host my fonts? What are my options?

Dafont.com does allow you to submit a font which will then get evaluated and the author is then notified if it has been selected for them to host. It seems the EULA is to be provided in the zip file along with the font. The only disadvantage is I'm not certain how much of the font dafont is allowing itself to my font and can potentially own it, and there is no option to sell the font, since all their fonts are free downloads. 

MyFonts.com also has a seller section. According to them they have the largest selection of fonts and participation is open to all foundries, large or small. They offer 50% of the retail price whenever the font is sold. They look really reliable and offer many opportunities to market your font as well as protection of rights. It feels more like a retailer of fonts. I'm not sure how to get started and I would have to assume there would be an application process.

Linotype.com invites designers to submit fonts as well. Sounds awesome but I feel like I might be a little too grass roots for that just yet. It also seems like the fonts they sell are a lot more practical and mine are very much for display use. However they are a far more recognizable and reputable company within the industry and also lists help in preparing your font for submission. I feel like this would be a lot more official than other sites as they offer to license your font if accepted. 

ITCfonts.com is also a recognizable name in the font industry that accepts font submissions for licensing. However there requirements seem a lot more specific and a little less helpful. Somehow, as similar as they seem to other sites, they don't seem quite as appealing but that could just be my initial impression.

For now I've decided to prepare my fonts for final submission and gather a little more info from each company. I will then weigh out my options and will most likely submit the fonts to a couple sites almost like applying for a job. Maybe I can also host and license the fonts myself through my website.


A great new resource for fonts was forwarded to me by Jan. Type For You, a great typography blog with an awesome directory that opens up a lot more possibilities.  Thanks :)