Just Curious About Legalities of Sharing?

**Giselle** · 03-14-2009, 01:39 PM

A member was looking for a particular font which I happen to have. Several years ago I purchased software with fonts and graphics, would I be legally able to zip a particular font up for a member?

A few weeks back I was doing a PSP tutorial, the author had zipped up a few things to be able to complete the tutorial, a font was enclosed in the zipped file, come to find out I had the font in this same software I had purchased. Might mention this has happened numerous times over the years with an author of a PSP tutorial supplying fonts and graphics in a zipped file.

As I questioned in the beginning paragraph, what are the legalities of sharing a font or a graphic?

**chrishirst** · 03-14-2009, 05:01 PM

It really depend on the font in question.

There are lots of fonts that are freely available and can be shared, passed on, included in install packages etc. Then there are commercial fonts that come bundled with some software applications that are copyright and should NOT be shared.
Opening the font in the Windows font viewer should display the copyright notice for that particular one.

**Giselle** · 03-15-2009, 12:03 AM

I looked, it's copyrighted. Thank you twice Chris!

**fdansv** · 03-15-2009, 11:44 AM

Sorry to disagree. RIAA and other copyright management societies have always been attacking individuals saying that sharing files and copyright-protected content is a criminal offence, which is not at all. If you buy a music CD, a font, software... you have the right of sharing it with others if it is not for commercial reasons. Otherwise you must buy a commercial license or contact the copyright holder.

Anyway the sole file sharing facto is never reason for prosecution. Not at least in EU

**Giselle** · 03-15-2009, 01:07 PM

You are absolutely right Fran, I have seen that numerous times on downloads, whether it was fonts, plugins, graphics, etc., just as long as it wasn't for commercial purposes. Thank you for bringing this to light, actually I could share this font with the member.

On the other hand, if I get arrested and sent to the poky for copyright infringement, I now can catch up on my reading material, three squares a day, maybe HD television, no bills, medical, what more could anyone ask for?

But I do support and understand the other side of the copyright issue also...

**fdansv** · 03-15-2009, 01:13 PM

You won't be arrested as long as you don't make money with the stuff you share, whatever RIAA and other suckers say, it's legal. All court cases related to this remained favorably to the sharer.

**Giselle** · 03-15-2009, 01:58 PM

Oh gee wiz, I will miss all those free meals and television!

But on a serious note Fran, thank you again for bringing that to light.

A few years back Microsoft accused me of being a pirate with XP, all the years working with Microsoft Windows, no problem with a single copy being installed on another matching sister computer in the house. This was the year they were cracking down, the gentleman got fresh and said I was pirate, so now I am a pirate and I was fresh right back. I had to purchase a second copy, different number with only one disk, in other words two different numbers with one disk. Ended up calling back for another reason, fortunately a lady explained this, Microsoft was really cracking down, and mentioned I should have never been treated like this. Needless to say I was mad at the time, and feel right now this copyright issue has gone a bit overboard. But still maintain the support and understanding of the copyright issue.