11 replies to this topic

[A.R.T.games]

Im not sure really ware to post this.

I feel kinda dumb asking this but are the default founts you use in windows safe to use in you games without any legal issue?

Also what are free alternatives to them that i can use?

[Dangerous_Dave]

This should help:

http://www.microsoft...ibutionFAQ.mspx

[Syynth]

A quick search turned up this quote; but it could possibly be wrong, so don't hold me responsible xD

Norman Walsh says:
The U.S. Copyright Office holds that a bitmapped font is nothing more than a computerized representation of a typeface, and as such is not copyrightable:

"The [September 29, 1988] Policy Decision [published at 53 FR 38110] based on the [October 10,] 1986 Notice of Inquiry [published at 51 FR 36410] reiterated a number of previous registration decisions made by the [Copyright] Office. First, under existing law, typeface as such is not registerable. The Policy Decision then went on to state the Office's position that 'data that merely represents an electronic depiction of a particular typeface or individual letterform' [that is, a bitmapped font] is also not registerable." 57 FR 6201.

Edit: Just to clarify, the site I found this on explained this as, you're usually allowed to use the fonts how you want, it's more distributing the font files themselves that's an issue.

Edited by Syynth, 15 October 2009 - 01:01 AM.

[A.R.T.games]

Taking a look at the first link i would like to play it safe. So to do that ware can i get founts that i know for sure are safe to use and disturb with my game?

[Dangerous_Dave]

Taking a look at the first link i would like to play it safe. So to do that ware can i get founts that i know for sure are safe to use and disturb with my game?

If you checked each of the questions, my link said just find the font file and look at the properties to check the license on it. But you can get fonts by just Googling "free fonts" or "public domain fonts" or "royalty free fonts".

[A.R.T.games]

Im not sure if i can ask this here or make a new topic. But once i get a fount that i would like to use, how do i get it into the game? I looked in the changing resources but it looks like you can only use founts installed on the system.

Edited by A.R.T.games, 15 October 2009 - 01:22 AM.

[Dangerous_Dave]

Im not sure if i can ask this here or make a new topic. But once i get a fount that i would like to use, how do i get it into the game? I looked in the changing resources but it looks like you can only use founts installed on the system.

Then I suggest you install the font onto the system

[A.R.T.games]

I would do that but im not sure if people like things being installed on there system. And i don't like the idea that if my program ever ended abruptly it would leave files all over the place.

But with that set aside i used file_copy("<fount file name here>", "C:\Windows\Fonts") And that did not work. How would i install the fount?

Edit:
I also tried file_copy("<fount file name here>", "C:\Windows\Fonts\<fount file name here>")

Edited by A.R.T.games, 15 October 2009 - 01:57 AM.

[Dangerous_Dave]

I would do that but im not sure if people like things being installed on there system. And i don't like the idea that if my program ever ended abruptly it would leave files all over the place.

If it is installed on your system, then add it as a font resource in your game. You don't need to install it on the players' system.

[A.R.T.games]

I would do that but im not sure if people like things being installed on there system. And i don't like the idea that if my program ever ended abruptly it would leave files all over the place.

If it is installed on your system, then add it as a font resource in your game. You don't need to install it on the players' system.

To avoid this, Game Maker embeds all the fonts you want to use in the game file, but only in the stand-alone games. So if you give a stand-alone game to someone else you don't need to provide the font files.

I did not know that. Now i do. Thank you all! Im happy now.

[Zezuken]

Your unhealthy mix up between the words font and fount disturb me greatly.

But this question depends on where you live.

In the USA you don't have to worry about it, but ones with obvious design styles like Halo, is probably something completely different.

Edited by Zezuken, 15 October 2009 - 04:04 AM.

[KC LC]

Let's close this before it gathers any more misinformation, or ambiguous information.

The answer is YES. You may use the fonts that came with your Windows software. Using those fonts in your game is no different than using them on a printed page. That's their purpose.

Dangerous_Dave's link answers your question:

You are not allowed to copy, redistribute or reverse engineer the font files.

Embedding the font in your game, or using it in a document, is not the same as "redistribution". So you're legal. No worries.