Using fonts from Adobe Fonts to create logo for a client (that will likely be trademarked).

[karls74109419]

Hi,

I have seen this topic come up on the community quite often, though some of the answers, and from the Chat Line, are a little ambiguous.

Can a designer (me) with a Creative Cloud subscription, use a font from Adobe Fonts to create a logo for a client - who will likely trademark the logo? I will also tweak the logo slightly to make it a little more unique, therefore the outlined font (not the software) will be a deriveraitive artwork.

To be clear, the client does not get the font software, only the EPS/PDF version of the final logo.

From what I have read here, this should all be allowed, though looking for some clarification - and a little assurance. 😉

Many thanks

Karl

[jmlevy · Accepted solution]

Yes, you can legally use the Adobe Fonts to create a logo, even if your client as no licence to use the font.

https://helpx.adobe.com/fonts/using/font-licensing.html#:~:text=a%20custom%20license%3F-,Can%20I%20u...

[Andrew Strauss]

Karl:

The quick answer:

Yes: you can use typefaces from Adobe Fonts to create a text-based logo that can be trademarked. Just as long as you convert the logo’s active editable text into vector paths, before handing the final artwork to your client.

The more detailed answer:

For more information on how you can use typefaces available on Adobe Fonts, here’s a webpage with answers to some common questions about font licensing:

https://helpx.adobe.com/fonts/using/font-licensing.html

For more complete details on Adobe Fonts’ Terms of Use, go to:

https://www.adobe.com/go/adobe-fonts-terms

This hyperlink will download a PDF copy of the latest Adobe Font End User Licence Agreement. This document is mostly written in legal jargon, but effectively grants you the licence as a graphic designer to create artwork using typefaces available on Adobe Fonts.

The catch: you cannot hand a complete copy of any of those fonts to anyone else.

You can design a logo, but you’ll need to convert any text into vector outlines before handing the logo artwork to your client. The same applies for text-based logos that are built in pixel-based software like Photoshop. You can design a book in InDesign using dozens of typefaces, and you can publish it using any file format like PDF that embeds the font files in a way that others cannot extract original copies of those font files.

The reality: the Adobe Fonts service has been engineered so that you don’t have direct access to any of the font files of the typefaces that you activate. Just as long as you don’t produce and publish files that require those original font files, you should generally be fine.

And if in doubt: go to Adobe Fonts’ Terms of Use pages listed above, and check what you’re currently permitted to do. Occasionally, end user licence agreements change. What may be considered acceptable use today may not necessarily be true tomorrow.

Whenever I want to purchase a new typeface, I always read the typefoundry’s end user licence agreement first. And if I have any questions, I contact the typefoundry directly. That way, I know precisely how I can use a typeface before I purchase licences. There’s nothing more frustrating than licensing a typeface that you really like, only to find that you’re not legally permitted to use it the way you want.

I hope that answers your question. If not, please let me know.

Best regards
Andrew

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