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Web design vs laws around font usage
Web design is an industry which is constantly evolving, and we know more about web design today than ever before. Some call this the Golden Era of web design, and that's not an understatement. Today, web designers create vast and complex layouts which are rich in their inclusion of media and user interaction. We even have web design for mobile phones these days, and with technology ever changing, it's safe to say that the current trends in web design will soon pass over to new, unforeseen ones.
However in all the excitement, did we all forget issues of legality and copyright? While most web designers know only to use image stock if it is paid for, or allowed by the author - the new trend of font-embedding can potentially involve breaches of copyrights, trademarks and design patents. When you embed a font on your website, it means your website can feature searchable text using that font. This can save time by not having to convert all your pretty writing into an image, and this also makes it great for SEO purposes. However, it also means that anyone who visits your website gets a copy of the font downloaded to their computer. Most fonts need to be purchased and are also protected by various Intellectual Property laws. A web design which embeds these fonts is basically giving out free copies to the public.
Sounds a bit like piracy, doesn't it? Luckily there are still a few options left. These include finding free fonts with which the author allows public use including font-embedding. There are several websites out there, dedicated to providing fonts which allow embedding. You can also use services like Typekit, which allow you to pay for the font usage.
If your current web design uses embedded fonts, check to see if your web designer has considered these issues. A professional and experienced web designer should be across all potential problems, as font-embedding has existed for a number of years. However, as it's only now starting to become a widespread trend in web design, many amateur designers, or web design enthusiasts, might not have considered the potential harm in embedding fonts. It's important for everyone to be aware of the legal issues before using embedded fonts in their web design.
