Licensing Guide + FAQs

You've got "which license do I need" questions. I've got answers.

This page is absolutely packed with helpful information about licenses and font licensing. Here you can find the following:

  • a cheat sheet of sorts with the most important details for each license type including a summary of the major yesses and nos for each

  • links beneath each that you can click on to view the full EULAs

  • a lengthy set of Licensing FAQs and answers where I’ve listed the most common uses I'm asked about and I explain which license you need. Common programs and apps are provided as examples to help guide you.

If you read through all of this and still have questions, please reach out.

Licensing Cheat Sheet

The following is a brief summary of the different types of licenses I offer here on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all possible licenses, but it covers the most common use cases I'm approached about (with the exception of broadcast licenses, which I always negotiate individually).

If you don't see your use case here, there is a fairly extensive FAQ section below. If you read through that and still aren't sure what you need, there's a contact form at the bottom of this page.

Desktop

  • Desktop programs and cloud-based apps (like Canva and Adobe Live)
  • Logos, social media, packaging, and physical products (up to 100,000 prints or reproductions; more than this requires a large volume license extension)
  • Websites (only in rasterized form)
  • Not for use in template products

The licensed font can appear in personal and/or commercial projects including but not limited to physical end products, client work, social media, packaging, print media, and merchandise. If you need to print/manufacture/produce more than 100,000 copies of an end product, a Large Volume extension is required.

Full Desktop EULA

Web

  • Websites you own
  • No tracking javascript required
  • Unlimited pageview option available (inquire via the contact form)
  • Not for use in template products

The licensed font can appear in multiple websites owned or controlled by you (i.e. you have a Shopify site and a Wordpress blog) but the page view limit you select when purchasing applies to views across any websites you use the font on.

Full Web Font EULA

Template

  • For when your customer is going to personalize a template product
  • One license per template product
  • Can be embedded but cannot be extractable
  • CANNOT include font files in download

The licensed font can appear in one template for resale (e.g. on Canva, Corjl, Templett, ShowIt, or others). The font files CANNOT be extractable or included with the template. Once license per template.

Full Commercial Template EULA

Server

  • For use on a commercial server to customize multiple products
  • One license per production server
  • Can be embedded but not extractable
  • Unlimited end-user option available

The licensed font can be used on one commercial, customer-facing server for the purpose of allowing third-party end users to customize products and designs. The font files must not be extractable. This license does not need to be renewed annually.

Full Commercial Server EULA

App

  • One license per app
  • Can be embedded but not extractable
  • Not for use in template or print-on-demand products
  • No source code distribution

The licensed font can appear in one application, and there is no tracking of or limit to how many times that app can be sold. Additional apps require additional licenses.

Note that I am not currently selling this license directly on this website. If you would like to purchase an app license, please use the contact form to send over the details of your project.

Full App EULA

ePub

  • One license per title
  • Can be embedded but not extractable
  • Not for use in template or print-on-demand products
  • Not for use in executable files

The licensed font can appear in one title, and there is no tracking of or limit to how many times that title can be sold. Additional titles require additional licenses.

Full ePub EULA

Special Cases

Custom

Custom Sometimes you need a custom license. Maybe you want to bundle a lot of different licenses together at a reduced rate. Maybe you need an unlimited license. Or maybe you need to license a font for digital ads, OOH/DOOH campaigns, broadcast, or something else. That's no problem. Just reach out.

Educational and Non-Profit

I do sometimes offer special pricing and licensing options for non-profit organizations, students and educators. Please email with details.

I want to use a font in a program like Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Word, or Corel Draw.

You’ll want a standard desktop license for that.

I want to use a font for my logo.

You’ll want a standard desktop license for that. If you'd also like to use the font on your website (outside of using it in rasterized images), you'll also need a web license.

I want to use a font with my vinyl cutting software (like Cricut Design Space, Silhouette Studio, or Mint Studio).

You need a standard desktop license for that. Note that you’ll want to use the files from the “PUA-Encoded” folder in your product download.

I want to upload a font to a site like Canva, Adobe Live, PicMonkey, or GoDaddy Studio in order to use it to create graphics for my own personal or commercial products.

Believe it or not, you’ll just need a standard desktop license because these sites function like desktop applications.

I want to use a font in a Canva template that I will offer for sale to my own customers.

You’ll need a Commercial Template license for this. One license per template you plan to sell.

I want to use a font for STATIC IMAGES on my website.

You’ll create these in a desktop app or on a website that functions like a desktop app, so you’ll need a standard desktop license for this. If you want to use the same font for body text, titles, headings, etc., you’ll need an additional webfont license (these two licenses can be bundled for a discount).

I want to use a font for body text, titles, and headings on a website that I control or own.

You’ll want the standard webfont license for this use.

I want to use a font in a template that I will allow my own customers to customize using a site like Corjl or Templett.

For this, you’ll need our new Commercial Template license. One license per template you plan to sell.

I want to use a font in a website template that I will sell to my own customers (think ShowIt, Wordpress, ThemeForest, Shopify Theme Store, etc.).

You’ll need a Commercial Template for this use. One license per template you plan to sell. Note that you CAN embed the fonts in your template, but you CANNOT distribute the font files with the template files; instead, you must provide links for the end user to purchase an appropriate license.

I want to use a font in an eBook or eMagazine.

You’ll need an ePub license.

I want to upload a font to a customer-facing server with the purpose of allowing my own customers to customize an array of products (think Minted, Shutterfly, Tiny Prints, etc.)

For this use, you’ll need a Commercial Server License.

I want to sell products that my customers can customize themselves, but I’m not sure whether I need a Commercial Template license or a Commercial Server license.

This is a great question and if the following answer leaves you still unsure, please contact support@upupcreative.com and we can discuss your specific circumstance. In general, 1 - if you’re creating a template that will be distributed to your customers as files, you’ll want the Template version of the license; 2 - if you’re using the font in just one single customizable product, you’ll want the Template version; and 3 - if you’re using the font across multiple customizable products, you’ll want the Server version.

I want to use a font in a mobile app.

You’ll need an App license.

I want to use a font in digital ads or OOH/DOOH campaigns.

Use the contact form to send the specifics of your project because you’ll most likely need a custom license.

I want to use a font in a documentary, movie, or TV show.

Use the contact form to send the specifics of your project because you’ll most likely need a custom license.

I am interested in an unlimited license.

Use the contact form to send the specifics of your project because you’ll most likely need a custom license.

Bonus Questions:

Why do I need a license in the first place?

Believe it or not, fonts are software. Software lovingly and painstaking drawn, coded, and perfected over hundreds or even thousands of hours. Because of this, fonts are subject to intellectual property protection. Basically, you can't use a font without being granted permission. Buying a license grants you that permission.

Okay, but why so many different types of licenses?

Surely, an unlimited license would be simplest. It would allow you to use a font in every possible scenario, everywhere on earth, in perpetuity. But the number of people who actually NEED that kind of license is very, very small and that license would be very, very expensive.

The separate license types help ensure that you're not paying for usage rights that you don't need. They keep fonts affordable while still allowing font designers to be compensated appropriately for their time, their ideas, their effort, and their expertise.

Still have questions?

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