: Is it legal to use copyrighted fonts without a license for non-profit projects? I just want to use some specific fonts for a non-profit project. I'll never sell or get any money (not myself

@XinRu324

Answer: No

There is no copyright exemption allowing you to obtain and use a commercial font without paying for it if you do not intend to make a profit.

You need a license to obtain any font (unless you designed and created the font yourself) regardless of the way you intend to use it.

That said, if you have already obtained the font, and you did so legitimately, then there is no restriction against using it.

Legitimate ways of obtaining a font, with a license, include:


A font came bundled with other software and you obtained the whole bundle legitimately.
You bought a font from a commercial font foundry/retailer.
You obtained a font that has a free license, such as the SIL Open Font License, or just a "free for use" license.


In addition to this, the question loosely uses the term "non-profit", but that term is not appropriate here. "Non-profit" is an official designation given to organisations satisfying certain criteria. Your use may not even qualify as "non-commercial" because even though you say you won't be making any money from your project, if it is used in a commercial setting, where for example it may have the effect of promoting or advertising a business, it's still commercial.

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@Berryessa866

In the United Kingdom, the Copyright Designs & Patents Act 1988 specifically allows the use of fonts without infringing copyright.


54 Use of typeface in ordinary course of printing.
(1) It is not an infringement of copyright in an artistic work consisting of the design of a typeface—
(a) to use the typeface in the ordinary course of typing, composing text, typesetting or printing,
(b) to possess an article for the purpose of such use, or
(c) to do anything in relation to material produced by such use;
and this is so notwithstanding that an article is used which is an infringing copy of the work.


However you do commit an offence if you don't get the correct licence for the font in the first place. You need the right licence to create the copies of the fonts you intend to use: perhaps a straightforward TTF file, maybe a web-font version or something else.


17 Infringement of copyright by copying.
(1) The copying of the work is an act restricted by the copyright in every description of copyright work; and references in this Part to copying and copies shall be construed as follows.
(2) Copying in relation to a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work means reproducing the work in any material form.
This includes storing the work in any medium by electronic means.


You may find that the font owner will only charge a low fee to allow you to download the font and produce the versions you need to use. Once you have the font, the font owner can't impose royalty charges in the UK.

Other jurisdictions may differ.

This answer does not provide definitive legal advice in the UK or other jurisdictions. If you want legal advice, ask a lawyer.

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@Sarah814

As per the font, if it's licensed, you can't use it, on non profit sites or any other application.

You could instead use Google Fonts. It has a huge collection and many fonts are free.

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@Shelley591

At least in the US, fonts can't be copyrighted.

Perhaps you mean 'licensed fonts'?

If so, the answer to your question would be in the license that came with the font.

Many fonts allow you to use them freely for personal use, but require a paid license for commercial use (which could be for profit or non profit).

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