This article will examine how fonts came to occupy their current (and often misunderstood) position in U.S. copyright law, and, ultimately, why I believe fonts (the software that renders a typeface on a digital screen) are protectable works under U.S. copyright law.
As an IP attorney at a font company, I get a very specific set of reactions when I explain my job. The first is usually some version of: “You need a license for fonts?” The other is usually asking what my favorite font is (shoutout ITC Benguiat®). By Tim Costello, Chief IP Counsel at Monotype
