It's something that a lot of people never even think about.
The chances are that, when you bought your computer, it was supplied with a variety of fonts. This seems to make some people think that fonts are somehow like air, or rain, or the sunshine - in that they are free.
Bu think about it for a moment - fonts don't just appear - fonts have to be designed by someone. And font designers are like everyone else, they have every right to be paid for their labors.
When we buy a professional font, we have to abide by the terms and conditions of purchase.
From Fonts and the Law:
Typically most font software EULAs define the number of computers you can install the font files onto, and what you can do with the font software (for example view, create, and print documents or files). You cannot make additional copies or distribute the font software beyond the number of licensed users or workstations. Further, most EULAs will describe whether fonts can be installed onto internal network servers, or internet servers, provided to service bureaus, modified or converted to other formats, or embedded into documents or redistributed in other ways.
Put simply, it is normally against the terms and conditions of our purchase to pass that font onto anyone else, be that a client, a printer or anyone at all. Not only are we breaking licensing agreements by doing that, we are also denying the font designer his payment for his work.
So please don't ask us.
But, if your printer IS asking for the font, ask yourself this? Why doesn't he have the basic tools of his trade? And if he doesn't, why isn't he prepared to invest in his business? Which leads to - how professional is the printing company?
Imagine taking your car to the shop to be worked on and the mechanic tells you he doesn't actually have the right size screwdriver (or wrench or whatever it is they use) so please can you contact the car manufacturer and get them to send him one?
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