Application License

By application we mean phone apps, tablet apps, computer programs and video games. You don’t need an application license if you’re making graphics or including a logo or pre-rendered headings. Including vector graphics in the app is no problem. You only need an application license if you’re including the working font data in the application. If you’re converting it to another format, including bitmap, that’s embedding. Even if the user can’t access the font, it’s still embedded. If the application allows the user to “make something” a custom license is required. Examples of apps that allow users to make something: graphic design software, forms generator, online t-shirt generator, CAD software suite. If you’re distributing software make sure the font isn’t installed on the user’s system. If the font can’t be embedded in the software or a library, make sure it’s somewhat obfuscated so the casual user won’t likely find and install it.

Indie Developer Tip:

How do you know what tier of application license to buy? Unless you’re really confident you’re going to have hundreds of thousands of users, just pick the first tier. Later when your game is very successful, you can purchase another license. We’re not fussy about when you purchase a license—you can wait for launch day.