.svg) A community generated icon for the GPL+FE | |
| Author | David "Novalis" Turner |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Free Software Foundation |
| Published | April 20, 2005 |
| SPDX identifier | Font-exception-2.0 |
| FSF approved | Yes |
| GPL compatible | Yes |
| Copyleft | Yes |
| Website | www |
The GPL font exception clause (or GPL+FE, for short) is an optional clause that can be added to the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL) permitting digital fonts shared with that license to be embedded within a digital document file without requiring the document itself to also be shared with GPL. Without the clause, conflicts may arise with open-source projects distributing digital fonts which may be used in desktop publishing.[1] As explained by Dave Crossland in Libre Graphics Magazine: "A copyleft font may overreach into the documents that use it, unless an exception is made to the normal terms; an additional permission to allow people to combine parts of a font with a document without affecting the license of texts, photographs, illustrations and designs. Most libre fonts today have such a copyleft license – the SIL OFL or GNU GPL with the Font Exception described in the GPL FAQ."[2]
- ^ "Legal Considerations for fonts". Fedora Project. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
- ^ Crossland, Dave (2011). "Copyleft Business" (PDF). Libre Graphics Magazine. 1 (2): 12–13. Retrieved 5 June 2015.