Anti-Piracy, the Dutch Way

We all are aware that software piracy is is bad. We all are aware that font piracy is not any better, just because they are so small in size and numerous. We all are aware, though, that prices for font licenses are rather hefty for the average student, et al.

Underware, makers of Dolly and Sauna have a unique way to prevent students from behaving unlawfully:

The beautiful and inexpensive (I paid EUR 10,—) specimen book for the Dolly typeface family contains also a CD-ROM with the complete font. Also on the disc is a punkrocky audio track of an as yet unknown singer/band. Alongside the font comes a ReadMe, explaining that you will have to purchase a (quite reasonably priced, I think) license to legally use the fonts. It further states:

I mailed them about my educational license, and very fast came a friendly reply from Akiem of Underware who explained that because I was a student a license was not neccessary for me to legally use Dolly. (I will, for the case of FontPolice or BSA raids, print that e-mail out :-] ).

If more foundries (and software companies in general) took this approach, this would be a more type-aware world. Imagine students (and I am not talking about a few maniacs like my humble self, I am talking about the masses of graphic design students) really appreciating the value of — let’s say — FrutigerNext over a cheap ripoff like Frutus (err... no, wait... it seems I can not find it, but I guess you know what I mean). Or Dolly over the standard windows corefont TNR. I think the potential of “addicting” students to good quality is worth more than the one or odd lost licenses when a font’s use calls for the educational (no-)license agreement.

Most foundries are quite different, though. Last year, when I called Berthold for informational material concerning the new Akzi series and the 100+ years of Akzi history, explaining that I needed it for university, they quite harshly told me to email them about it. I didn’t want any fonts, mind you. I just wanted some paper! Guess if they ever replied to my email.

Comments

Well, not charging students for fonts is one way to keep them from stealing them...

John B. | Sep 27, 2002 04:10 AM

Bravo Underware! This is exactly the sort of "lateral thinking" we need to circumvent piracy - fighting it head-on is hopeless. On the other hand, tying the font to a physical object might present too much of a barrier, even though people are much more confortable paying for physical things. Anyway, it would be nice to learn how this sales method is actually working.

hhp

Hrant | Sep 27, 2002 07:45 AM

I've seen the booklet and it looks really good too. I'm somewhere inbetween professional work and educational work, but i guess i won't be needing the studentfree license anyway. The thing is, i've seen a LOT of piracy happening during my studies, going from an occassional download of a ripped font to the mass reproduction of mac fonts on cd-r, spread for hard cash (really!).

I think this is a good -read: creative- approach to the problem, but i think it shouldn't be just adopted by other foundries. Maybe each foundry should try to find a creative solution or approach and see what works best for them.

One thing they shouldn't forget, even when treating students on the phone or mail: they are the future clients.

Egon | Sep 27, 2002 10:11 AM