The Story of Freedom with SandollCloud Fonts
In April 2020, SandollCloud launched an important campaign that was welcomed not only by SandollCloud users but also by other platform users. End of Font Lawsuits! What is this campaign known as the Lawsuit-Free Campaign of SandollCloud about? Despite its somewhat intimidating wording, the content it contains is quite the opposite.
Let us introduce SandollCloud's [Font License Integration] Campaign, which eliminates all the complexities of font usage restrictions.
Q. What is the [Font License Integration] Campaign?
The [Font License Integration] campaign by SandollCloud aims to eliminate the complex usage restrictions traditionally associated with fonts in the font industry, allowing for unrestricted and free usage. Launched in April 2020, this initiative redefines how fonts can be utilized, ensuring greater freedom for users. While those familiar with fonts might find the term "usage scope" more relatable as "licenses," it essentially refers to how font service companies or brands structure their offerings based on the permitted usage of fonts.
In South Korea, fonts are typically divided into primary licenses, allowing usage in printing, publishing, outdoor advertising, and secondary licenses, enabling usage across all areas like CI/BI, commercial videos, and e-books. Users must verify the applicable usage scope of the font service product they are using before utilization.
Prior to this campaign, SandollCloud categorized fonts based on similar usage scope criteria. However, in pursuit of enhancing user convenience and enabling more liberal font usage, the campaign abolished all distinctions between primary and secondary license categories for fonts.
*Please note that embedding fonts into seperate apps or programs and webfont licensing agreements are not included in this campaign and require seperate contracts.
Q. What is the purpose of this campaign?
Despite significant improvements today, there used to be a lack of established awareness regarding copyright issues. Similar to other creative works, fonts were particularly affected, with illegal downloading and uncontrolled distribution of font files occurring. Consequently, the industry pursued copyright lawsuits against those who used fonts illegally or outside their permitted usage terms. Many users came to perceive fonts as something they could get sued over if used unappropriately.
To address this negative perception and enable more people to use fonts freely and joyfully in both work and daily life, SandollCloud eliminated all restrictive and inconvenient usage terms through its [Font License Integration] campaign.
Q. Does the removal of usage restrictions apply only to Sandoll fonts?
No, it applies to all fonts from various brands available on SandollCloud. Regardless of which product or brand within SandollCloud you use, all usage restrictions are now eliminated.
To elaborate further, this includes not only fonts from paid services but also free fonts available on "CloudBridge," a program where SandollCloud's fonts can be used without any usage restrictions. Essentially, all paid and free fonts serviced by SandollCloud can now be freely used in any desired context without limitations on usage.
However, for free fonts, the copyright and usage rights are determined by the font's creator or distributor. Therefore, despite the removal of usage restrictions, the usage terms may still be subject to change based on the policies of the font's creator. To prevent confusion among users of SandollCloud, any changes in usage rights for free fonts are aligned with our policies, resulting in discontinued services on CloudBridge.
Q. What was the user response to the campaign?
Upon the campaign's launch, the response was more enthusiastic than we anticipated. Users applauded and supported our initiative. Many expressed that the freedom and convenience gained from being able to use fonts in any context without continually checking usage rights made font usage more enjoyable and practical. It was gratifying to see that our intentions and goals resonated with users.
While the majority welcomed the campaign, there were still some users who harbored doubts, possibly due to lingering perceptions that fonts could lead to legal issues if used incorrectly—a perception stemming from the previous association of fonts with lawsuits.
Recognizing that this campaign isn't an overnight solution to change negative perceptions about font usage across the entire industry, we are committed to continually informing and engaging users over the long term. Therefore, we are actively pursuing various activities to sustain awareness and understand users.
<2020 Sandoll Cloud Font Usage Range Destruction Video Challenge>
Fortunately, since the campaign's launch, several font companies have also taken similar steps along with us. To improve the negative perceptions about fonts and promote a freer font usage environment, I believe that many font companies should join us. Of course, I understand that not everyone may share the same opinion because each brand may have different goals and directions.
Closing
The SandollCloud [Font License Integration] campaign was a significant and meaningful step toward creating a "freer font lifestyle environment." It will take time to instill the perception among many font users and the general public that fonts are not something to be feared, but rather something enjoyable and convenient to use.
We plan to continue promoting the SandollCloud [Font License Integration] campaign through diverse and consistent marketing activities in the future. Please stay tuned and keep an eye on our progress.
Author: Hong Okseung, Sandoll Brand Communication Team