Font copyright compliance boils down to one rule: define where, how much, and for how long a font is used in the license scope, not whether it can be downloaded online. A font installed on a designer's computer is not automatically licensed for packaging, advertising, or embedding in an app. Each use case has its own price tag.
Three types of commercial licenses
In China, commercial font licensing typically follows three paths. Price differences come from usage scenarios, not the font's aesthetic. A common mistake is buying only a desktop license but sending the font to printers or external video teams.
- Desktop license: Priced per installed seat. Common range for one font, one seat: RMB 300–1,500 per year. Covers internal design and typesetting only; no embedding or sublicensing to third parties.
- Embedded license: For apps, mini-programs, H5, digital screens, PDF embedding. Priced per product or terminal. Common range: RMB 3,000–20,000 per font per product per year.
- Trademark/logo license: When a font enters a logo or trademark registration, most foundries require a buyout or category-specific license. Common range: RMB 5,000–30,000 per font, with written confirmation that it can be used for trademark registration.
The key action is to request two documents: a license certificate and a usage scope attachment. Check that the contract explicitly states "may be used for trademark registration" and "may be sublicensed to printing/production suppliers." Without these clauses, the license is incomplete.
Open-source fonts: free is not risk-free
Open-source fonts are usable, but you must check each license, not the promotional copy on the download page. Here are three common pitfalls.
- SIL OFL: Allows commercial use, modification, and redistribution, but modified fonts must not use the original reserved font name, and the font files cannot be sold separately.
- Apache 2.0: Allows commercial use and modification, requires retention of copyright notices and license files; some fonts have reserved font name lists that must be checked line by line.
- "Free for commercial use" without a clear license: If no license text is found, treat it as unusable. This is the safest default for legal teams.
Two more practical boundaries: open-source fonts can be used in logos, but you must archive the font name, version number, and license text screenshot. Open-source fonts may not have complete weight sets; a VI system often needs 4–6 weights. If a weight is missing, artificially bolding or stretching counts as modification, and the modified font must not use the original name.
Cost comparison: buy, use open source, or custom
Take a brand visual system requiring two Chinese fonts (headline and body, three weights each). Below are typical quotes from Guangzhou first-tier suppliers for direct comparison.
| Path | One-time / annual cost | Timeline | When to choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase commercial license | Trademark license for headline font: RMB 5,000–30,000; desktop license for body font: RMB 300–1,500 per seat per year | 3–10 working days | Brand just starting, font needs concentrated in 1–2 typefaces: buy first |
| Switch to open-source fonts | RMB 0 license fee, 0.5–1 person-day for license archiving | Immediate | High material volume, tight budget, low need for unique letterforms |
| Custom exclusive font | Custom Chinese font family typically starts at RMB 80,000–300,000 (approx. USD 11,000–42,000), including 6,763 common characters | 3–6 months | Group with multiple brands, long-term identifier anchor |
The decision rule is simple: if the font will enter a logo, be registered, and used for five years or more, custom or buyout is more cost-effective. If it's only for e-commerce detail pages and social media images, open-source fonts with a defined weight table suffice. For the middle ground—B2B companies needing a stable set of external communication materials—the most economical approach is a buyout font for the logo and open-source fonts for body text.
Write font specifications into the VI
Font compliance is not a one-person job in the design department. It must be embedded in the identity system's specification documents; otherwise, every outsourcing project will repeat the same mistakes. This ties directly to the delivery of logo and visual identity.
- Font inventory page: State which font is used for headlines, body, numbers, and English, along with version number, license type, and license expiry date.
- Prohibited list: List common system fonts and fonts of unknown origin that must not be used, and attach it to outsourcing contracts.
- Sublicensing clause: When contracting with printers, video teams, or agencies, specify that fonts are provided by the brand and licensing is the brand's responsibility; suppliers must not substitute fonts on their own.
- Annual review: Check license expiry dates and new material scenarios once a year; purchase additional licenses for embedded materials separately.
The case of Wanfu Technology, a B2B technology manufacturer, illustrates this: its brand identity and communication materials span exhibition panels, product manuals, and overseas materials, so font licensing must cover both print and electronic embedding. In the Wanfu Technology brand identity and communication materials case, you can see that the more systematic the materials, the more font specifications must be front-loaded.
What to do after an infringement claim
When you receive a letter from a font foundry, do three things first—don't negotiate price immediately. First, stop new usage and take down relevant materials. Second, trace the font's download source and license credentials. Third, count the actual number of characters used and the number of scenarios. Claims in China are often priced per character, with unit prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of RMB; the number of characters and scenarios are the core variables. If you have a complete license chain, provide the credentials directly. If not, negotiating a retroactive license based on usage is usually cheaper than litigation. True avoidance happens at the procurement stage, not the letter stage.
Fonts are the cheapest and most expensive part of a brand identity system: the right license costs a few thousand RMB, but one mistake can mean redoing a whole set of materials plus a claim. Write the font inventory, licenses, and sublicensing clauses into the VI to keep risk locked in the process.
At Xingkong Dahai, we review font licensing scope alongside material scenarios in logo and VI projects to avoid compliance gaps after the identity system is implemented. For project inquiries: +86-400-6619-020.
Frequently asked questions
Can open-source fonts be registered as trademarks?
Most SIL OFL and Apache 2.0 fonts allow trademark use, but you must check each license and archive the font name, version, and license screenshot. The safe approach is to modify the letterforms sufficiently or convert them to outlines, and confirm in writing that the modified font does not use the original name.
How much do font copyright claims typically cost?
In China, font infringement claims are often priced per character, ranging from hundreds to thousands of RMB per character. The number of characters used, number of scenarios, and commercial use are the main variables. Packaging or outdoor advertising is often counted character by character, so companies with high material volume face greater exposure.
Can a printing company use a font installed on our office computers?
Not automatically. A desktop license typically covers internal design and typesetting only. Sublicensing to printers or manufacturers requires a contract clause explicitly allowing "sublicensing to suppliers." Without that clause, convert the font to outlines and deliver as graphic files to prevent suppliers from reinstalling it.
Font compliance is a procurement and process issue, not a design afterthought. Build a font inventory, verify licenses, and write sublicensing terms into your VI documents.
Xingkong Dahai reviews font licensing scope alongside material scenarios in logo and VI projects to close compliance gaps before they surface. For project inquiries, call +86-400-6619-020.