[perchard]

This is enabling the piracy of typefaces. It takes significant skill and time to create a typeface, and creators should be paid for their work.

Instead of pirating typefaces, please see:

https://fontstand.com/

https://fonts.adobe.com/

https://typographica.org/on-typography/my-favorite-font-sour...

Many foundries also offer trial versions of their typefaces. For example:

https://www.grillitype.com/free_trials

If you don't want to pay for a typeface, there are many very good open source options available. For example:

https://github.com/IBM/plex

http://www.latofonts.com/lato-free-fonts/

[cmroanirgo]

There's also google's rather excellent Noto font (available in all languages!)

https://www.google.com/get/noto/

https://github.com/googlei18n/noto-fonts

https://github.com/googlei18n/noto-cjk

[jaxn]

I agree with you, and, it's the people who checked licensed fonts into open source repositories who are really enabling piracy.

I am surprised that font foundries aren't already requesting take downs.

[LocalH]

From a US perspective, typeface piracy is impossible absent a design patent, as typefaces cannot be copyrighted (37 C.F.R. § 202.1(e)). Individual font implementations may be copyrightable, but if one can acquire a specimen, they may digitize or recreate that specimen. Also, only outline fonts are protected (due to the fact that most of them contain some sort of executable code), bitmap fonts are not copyrightable (and absent a design patent, there is no other legal avenue for protection).

This doesn't end the debate, obviously, for those outside of the US.

[Fnoord]

A search engine doesn't enable piracy, it is the inherent property of data that allows it to be copied easily and cheap (zero marginal cost).

All a search engine or the Internet does is making it slightly more convenient. But they are just the messenger, the tool. The underlying problem is the property of data.

Instead, what those who make a typeface should do is raise a fund after which they set their font free. Pretty much the same way open source fonts are created, but if you don't work for a company you can even found your own and/or use platforms such as Kickstarter or IndieGogo. That typeface authors are unable to adapt to how easily data is distributed (in 2018, no less) isn't my problem. Nor is it the problem of Get The Font or Google.