Microsoft fonts

alanbarnard · 02-28-2006, 05:47 AM

Ubuntu includes fonts such as Arial. I thought that the full Unicode Arial font was made exclusively for Microsoft. What is the status of the fonts such as Arial as included in Ubuntu? Ubuntu is normally very careful to only include unemcumbered software in its distributions. I want to use these fonts in a completely Microsoft-free environment.

satinet · 02-28-2006, 06:10 AM

i believe it is legal to redistribute some MS fonts if they are given credit. You would have to read the MS EULA (end user license agreement).

Quote:

These specific fonts only require that the apropriate EULA be maintained with the set for redistribution. The EULA is contained within the tarball as a README. If you use any of the aforementioned systems for downloading the fonts, you will find that your distro also includes the EULA as well.

from:

http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=19259

alanbarnard · 02-28-2006, 08:24 AM

Thank you for a clear answer, especially the link. I remembered that Microsoft no longer put them up on their site for download but it seems as if they have made that particular set of fonts freely available in perpetuity.

Ubuntu puts the Microsoft core fonts into their own directory:

/usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts

satinet · 02-28-2006, 08:27 AM

well, i guess once they have made them available, they can't unmake the one's they already released, if you see what I mean...

HappyTux · 02-28-2006, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanbarnard

Ubuntu includes fonts such as Arial. I thought that the full Unicode Arial font was made exclusively for Microsoft. What is the status of the fonts such as Arial as included in Ubuntu? Ubuntu is normally very careful to only include unemcumbered software in its distributions. I want to use these fonts in a completely Microsoft-free environment.

If you want the Unicode Arial font then it is not in the corefonts package try the instructions/links on this page if you want to get it.