On 02/11/10 10:34, Paul Sladen wrote: > On Thu, 12 Aug 2010, Sebastian Kosch wrote: >> http://netbook-remix.archive.canonical.com/updates/pool/public/l/luzsans-ttf/ >> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/115258 > > I've replied stating that it claims to be GPL (in debian/copyright, > although without Font Exception or source code).
Hi, I have personally not heard of this font before and I seriously doubt that a H&FJ design / HP corporate font got released under a appropriate font-specific libre license. That would be quite surprising! AFAICT the metadata of the font currently has: "08/03 Luz, HP New Futura The Hoefler Type Foundry, 1998-2003." and no other indication about licensing. If anyone has it directly from the foundry authors or commissioned company (partners or whatever) that the font is actually released openly then they need to say that clearly and prove it with the appropriate documentation and metadata in the source tree: the ttf name table filled-in with the current information, a detached licensing file and a FONTLOG are the best way to do that. Seems to me that this is a case (sadly happening too often) of not doing proper diligence in checking the authorship and licensing information for font software before packaging it and adding it to the archive. Please, let's to be more serious about respecting upstream author's copyright notices and licensing choices however restricted they may be. debian/copyright has to reflect reality. The open font community provides tools to help you do these checks properly. If a particular font is not open then it simply doesn't belong in the archive. If there's an official agreement or commissioning it's great, but it needs to be clearly indicated and propagated to the metadata and documentation of the font. Depending on the situation advocacy to the upstream authors and commissioning entity can be helpful - and has been successful various times in the Debian Font Task Force and elsewhere across the open font community - but in the case of a big corporate visual identity font projects things are obviously different. The issues of the appropriateness of the GPL-only approach for font software is a whole separate issue... HTH, Bye, -- Nicolas Spalinger, NRSI volunteer Debian/Ubuntu font teams http://planet.open-fonts.org -- ubuntu-devel mailing list [email protected] Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel
