Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!adobe!odonnell
From: odonnell@adobe.COM (Terry O'Donnell)
Newsgroups: comp.fonts
Subject: Font Royalties
Message-ID: <14014@adobe.UUCP>
Date: 12 Apr 91 19:42:59 GMT
Reply-To: quangl@oakhill.sps.mot.com (Quang Le)
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated, Mountain View
Lines: 25

Quang Le asked:

>  I want to modify some common fonts (Times, Courier,...) by 
>  adding some special characters which are only used in Vietnamese 
>  writing. If I distribute these fonts to other people (with or 
>  without fee), do I have to pay royalties to Adobe? Assume that my 
>  customers are already licensed to use those fonts (English character 
>  set) in their computers.

Although it is understandable that it may be necessary to alter
a font for one's own use, the distribution of the resulting
font is not allowed (except conceivably by a special licensing
agreement). In many cases, Adobe is bound by agreements with
the companies who license their fonts to us. Our official
position (offered here for informational purposes rather than 
as a warning!) is as follows:

Adobe has stated publicly that, although it has a legal right
to do so, it will not pursue end users who modify or adapt
Adobe font programs for their own personal or business use. But
Adobe reserves the right to pursue those who redistribute or resell
the modified Adobe fonts.

Terry O'Donnell
Adobe Systems