Did you know that many commercial fonts - especially ones from boutique foundries - explicitly prohibit logo use without purchasing a separate, more expensive license?
It's easy to miss. You buy a font, pay what seems like a reasonable price, and assume you can use it for client work. But buried in the EULA, there's often a clause that says something like "This license does not permit use in logos or trademarks."
Rite Aid discovered this restriction after investing $700 million in a complete rebrand featuring the Neutraface font. House Industries sued Rite Aid and its creative agencies because both Rite Aid and their agency PureRED had signed license agreements that clearly stated the font couldn't be used in logos. House Industries argued that allowing exclusive association with a single company would diminish the font's licensable value to other clients.
Font licenses regularly contain restrictions that surprise even experienced designers - especially when it comes to logos.
Why Logo Licensing Exists
Font foundries carefully control how their fonts can be used because fonts are their product. When a typeface becomes exclusively associated with one brand's logo, it reduces the foundry's ability to license that font to other clients profitably.
House Industries explained in their complaint that "House's font designs are intended to evoke a mood or an aesthetic that anyone can license; its designs are not intended and are not licensed to evoke an exclusive association with any one company."
Some foundries explicitly forbid logo use in their standard licenses. Others require upgraded licenses that cost significantly more than desktop or web licenses. A few offer logo licenses with territorial restrictions - you might have rights in North America but not Europe.
Real Cases Where Logo Use Went Wrong
Haribo's Halloween Packaging Mistake
Font Diner sued confectionery company Haribo for $150,000 over packaging for "Haribo Trick or Treat Mix" Halloween sweets. Haribo had purchased a desktop license for the Stovetop font but used it on product packaging and branding - uses not covered by their license.
The design agency Haribo commissioned, Galaxy Creative, had dissolved by the time the lawsuit was filed. This left Haribo facing the legal consequences directly - a reminder that businesses remain liable for licensing violations even when agencies make the mistakes. Learn more about who's liable when font licensing goes wrong.
Universal Music and The Vamps Logo
HypeForType sued Universal Music Group for $1.25 million in 2017 after The Vamps band logo appeared on merchandise and promotional materials using their font without proper commercial licensing. The case demonstrates that logos used across merchandise and marketing require comprehensive licensing coverage.
Common License Restrictions You'll Encounter
When you purchase or download a font, check the EULA for these common logo restrictions:
1. Explicit Logo Prohibitions
"This license does not permit use in logos or trademarks." Clear and direct - the font simply cannot be used in any logo, period.
2. Exclusive Use Restrictions
Some licenses allow logos but prohibit registering the logo as a trademark or using it in ways that create exclusive brand association with your company.
3. Media Limitations
Your desktop license might cover print materials but explicitly exclude logo use in product packaging, merchandise, or broadcasts.
4. Territory Restrictions
Logo rights might be limited to specific geographic regions. You may have rights in North America but not Europe.
5. Time Limitations
Some logo licenses expire and require renewal, unlike perpetual desktop licenses that you own forever.
Many designers assume that if they can use a font for a client's brochure, they can use it for the logo too. That assumption has cost companies thousands - sometimes millions - in settlements and legal fees. Read about other expensive font licensing mistakes companies have made.
Does Vectorizing Fix the Problem?
Some designers believe converting text to outlines or paths in Illustrator eliminates licensing concerns for logo use. It doesn't.
Even if you convert fonts to vector shapes, you still needed proper rights to use that typeface design for logo purposes in the first place. The license restriction is on using the font in a logo - not on which file format you save it in. Converting fonts to outlines doesn't bypass logo licensing restrictions any more than converting desktop fonts to different formats bypasses web licensing terms.
If your license prohibits logo use, vectorizing the type doesn't make it suddenly acceptable.
What to Do Before Using Fonts in Logos
1. Read the Actual EULA
Font licenses vary dramatically between foundries. Some allow logo use, others explicitly prohibit it, and many fall somewhere in between. Don't assume - read the terms.
2. Contact the Foundry
If the license terms are unclear, email the foundry before using the font. Most foundries respond quickly and appreciate being asked rather than discovering violations later.
3. Purchase Logo-Specific Licenses
When available, logo licenses typically cost more than desktop licenses but less than dealing with infringement claims. Budget for these properly.
4. Consider Alternatives
If a font prohibits logo use or requires expensive licensing, find fonts with more permissive terms or commission custom type.
5. Document Everything
Keep copies of license agreements and email correspondence confirming your rights. You'll need this documentation if questions arise later.
FontReport and Logo Licensing
When you scan your website with FontReport, the tool identifies fonts from foundries known to have specific logo licensing terms and flags them for your review. FontReport covers thousands of commercial fonts from over 30 botique foundries where logo restrictions commonly appear.
But remember, FontReport is a screening tool that highlights which fonts deserve closer attention. Always verify logo licensing terms directly with the foundry or by carefully reading the EULA. License terms vary even within the same foundry's catalog, and policies change over time.
The Safest Approach
For logo work specifically, consider these options:
1. Open Source Fonts
Fonts under SIL Open Font License are free for any use, including logos that can be trademarked. Google Fonts provides hundreds of options with zero licensing restrictions.
2. Custom Type
Commission a type designer to create a unique font for your brand. You'll own the rights completely and avoid licensing concerns entirely.
3. Foundries with Clear Logo Licensing
Some foundries like Adobe Fonts explicitly allow logo use in their standard licenses. Verify the terms, but these are generally safer choices than boutique foundries with restrictive policies.
Before finalizing any logo design using a commercial font, verify that your license covers logo use. The clarity you get from five minutes reading the EULA or emailing the foundry will save you from expensive legal problems down the road.
