Fun fact: the shapes of the letters in a font can’t be copyrighted, but the file that defines a font can. The name could be trademarked, though, so even if you redrew a font you might have to give it a different name. If it’s not trademarked, though, that’s how you end up with several companies having their own version of the same font.
this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2025
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Is that the same for all countries though or are you talking about a specific place where that‘s the case? I don‘t know much about the subject but this reads like one of those US specific fun facts that the rest of us can‘t really make use of.
In the thread it looks like in the US you can't copyright the shapes, but in the UK, you can for 25 years. Also the .ttf file that contains the code to make the font render correctly at low DPI is copyrightable in the US.
Another fun fact: the music for that ad was also stolen
Different ad
8h ago
@Rib this may be apocryphal, but I remember hearing the backing track for it was also used without paying the creator royalties Nischay@thatloststudent@infosec.exchange
2h ago
@bootblackcub@woof.group @Rib
It's not apocryphal, it actually happened: https://torrentfreak.com/rights-group-fined-for-not-paying-artist-for-anti-piracy-ad-120717/
That's kind of impressive, actually.
Always the same gadlighters trick: acuse others of doing what you are doing.
Going to find out the original script was used illegally in 2 years.
Typical.
Especially when that ad was released, nobody considered piracy a crime seriously then.
Those making the ad could probably be thinking like: something business-made, with workhours put into it, shouldn't be pirated, that's theft, but something made by enthusiasts can, it's taking what doesn't have an owner, just toys in the Internet, and also GPL is dishonest for having rules, it's cheating and poison, it's ownerless too, only companies doing business should be able to sue for IP violations.
I've stolen so many fonts...
Font name GitHub. Bam.
Wow... 🤯😂😂😂