How do free fonts impact foundries? ITF, Monotype and CoType on what designers should keep in mind

Following our previous discussion with ITF, Monotype and CoType, we return to the topic of free fonts to quench our curiosity a bit further. In part one, we learnt of the complexities that surround the topic of free fonts and questioned when might be the right time to use a free font in a project. Now, we look at the key factors to consider when working with free fonts, and ask our three experts – Satya Rajpurohit, Co-founder of Indian Type Foundry (ITF) and Founder of Fontshare; Tom Foley, Executive Creative Director at Monotype; and Mark Bloom, Creative Director and Founder of CoType Foundry – about the impact they have on foundries. Drawing from their extensive experience in the type design industry – experience that spans both retail and custom, bespoke projects – what insights can they offer? What do they identify as the potential pitfalls or considerations that designers should keep a vigilant eye on when working with free fonts in their projects? First off, if you are intent on using a free font, take caution with free font distribution sites that share fonts which do not belong to them. The proliferation of these sites offering ‘free’ fonts for download has seen a significant surge. However, it’s critical to note that these fonts may not be as ‘free’ as they appear. According to Foley, they may make fonts free to download “but potentially illegal to use,” often involving pirated intellectual property or restrictive End-User License Agreement (EULA) terms. Apart from the harm they cause to the industry, these sites also create a risk for the users. Designers who download and use these fonts may unknowingly violate legal terms, leading to compliance issues and possible legal ramifications. “We should tread with caution, it’s a minefield out there,” advises Foley. Bloom cites questionable reliability and ethical and copyright concerns when (whether mistakenly or not) a user picks a free copycat font. “There are some free fonts that purposely imitate popular commercial fonts and other typefaces that have illegally been hacked or ripped from foundry PDFs and other places, which is a definite case of copyright infringement. When working with larger clients, using such fonts might have legal implications.”