Drawing on their own experience, the specialists at TypeType explain how type foundries and designers can stop unlicensed use of their products and get additional revenue while avoiding reputational risk.
In TypeType’s professional experience the popularity of a typeface is linked to the fact that it will be more likely used without an appropriate license—despite the fact that developing a single family can take years of meticulous work. We covered how font licensing works in detail here.
TypeType’s license control department rectifies this situation—and not only do they do this for their own company, but they also offer this service to other font foundries. This collaboration requires no upfront investment and carries no financial risk, yet it can generate income for the partner foundry within the first few days. You can learn more about TypeType’s services for agencies on this page.
How does it work?
First, the TypeType technical team uses its software to build a database, compiling datesets of the partner foundry’s fonts being used on websites, in applications, and in other sources.
TypeType has extensive experience with mobile applications—the team analyzes a large number of them meticulously. These cases have the highest potential, and the studio began working with some of its long-term partners by focusing on this area.
However, the results for websites are also very high—because TypeType works not only with large, high-traffic sites but also with less visible cases. It’s often the case that a site has low viewership, but the company actively uses the font on other media. Thanks to the work of the license control manager, it’s possible to legitimize the font’s use across multiple license types. When working with websites, the team assesses not only traffic but also how active the site is, how many weights are used, the cost of the font itself, and other indicators that reveal potential.
The search is guided by the fonts’ metadata. If desired, the partner foundry can receive this data as an Excel spreadsheet and work with it independently. This option is for those prepared to take on all the risks and subsequent client communication themselves.
The other, far more effective option is outsourcing, which takes the burden off the partner. In this case, TypeType handles all the work—from data processing to securing agreements—while ensuring all client communication aligns perfectly with the principles and brand voice promoted by the partner foundry.
“When we first had the idea to develop this area, we never imagined we would encounter so many people using our fonts without a license. The vast majority do so without any malicious intent, simply out of ignorance, and are eager to fix the situation as quickly as possible. These loyal users generate the main share of the revenue.
We have been working in this area for five years, have earned over two million dollars in total, and continue to improve our annual results. During this time, we’ve gone through our own trial-and-error phase, and now we confidently support other partner foundries. We understand very well what aspects are important to our industry peers and are ready to adapt flexibly to their needs.”Aleksandr Kudryavtsev, CEO, co-founder TypeType
Only Profit and No Expenses
The outsourcing model has two main advantages.
The first is a risk-free revenue share model. Launching the collaboration is completely free for the partner. TypeType does not take prepayments and instead works on a Revenue Share model. This means the partner foundry pays a commission only after a user buys a license.
The second is quick profit. The client interaction process is designed to minimize the time from first contact to securing a valid license. Some users, upon receiving the very first email, realize their mistake and purchase a license immediately. Therefore, a partner can receive their first payments within just a couple of weeks of signing an agreement with TypeType.
Crucially, clients make all purchases directly on the partner foundry’s website. The money is deposited instantly into their account. TypeType is not a payment intermediary, which ensures complete transparency. At the end of the agreed reporting period, the partners compare records and settle the agreed-upon commission.
A Customized Approach
“As font creators, we understand their value very well and know how to present that value to a client. At the same time, as a major font foundry, we understand the value of intellectual property and how important it is to protect it.”
Ivan Gladkikh, CTO, co-founder TypeType
Client interaction at TypeType consists of two stages:
1) Friendly Start. First, the client receives a very friendly email asking them to provide information about their license. The issue is often resolved at this stage, and the parties part ways amicably. Moreover, clients frequently purchase not only the licenses for the fonts already in use but also additional weights or other fonts from the partner foundry. For cases with medium and high potential, a License control gets involved immediately, while for low-potential cases, letters are sent to potential infringers automatically.
2) Escalation. Only if the client completely ignores the outreach does TypeType move to stricter measures: informing them of legal options to protect exclusive rights, or sending a complaint to the hosting provider or app store about the illegal content, which can lead to the site/app being blocked. This is a last resort: the main goal is not to block the resource, but to establish contact with its owner to resolve the issue if other methods have failed.
A separate situation is “past use.” For example, if a font was used on a website a year ago and then removed. TypeType collects these cases in its database as well, because past use does not cure one of responsibility. Usually, the matter is resolved by the client purchasing a license, which settles the issue of compensation.
Worth noting, TypeType develops a customized approach for communicating with each studio and adapts to the partner’s tone of voice.
“All databases are also cleared with our partners to exclude organizations that a specific studio does not want to interact with for one reason or another. For example, some partners, for ethical reasons, do not want non-profit organizations to be on this list. In such cases, we do not contact them, even if those organizations are using a font without a license. This flexible approach allows us to protect the partner’s business reputation and turn an infringer into a loyal client.”
Georgii Koloskov, Partnership Manager TypeType
As a result, many infringers who used a font without a license unintentionally have become loyal clients of TypeType and its partners, continuing to work with them on a commercial basis.
Fonts Are Important
For TypeType, the start of the license compliance project was a very interesting technical challenge that allowed the company to develop its expertise in related fields. In the technical sphere, the company continues to constantly improve its tools for case discovery—both on the web and in mobile apps, as well as on other media.
In the legal sphere, the issue of protecting intellectual property in different countries and jurisdictions proved to be very interesting. This is an area TypeType is now actively developing to protect itself and its partners with maximum competence.
“Thanks to this project, we were able to study our clients more deeply, as we obtained data on large companies using our fonts. Some of them had purchased licenses indirectly, through our partners, so some of these cases remained unknown to us. And for font designers, it’s very important to see their fonts being used in major projects—it provides a lot of inspiration not only for the designers but for the whole company, and it confirms that the fonts we create are solving the challenges of major global businesses.
We see that user awareness about the importance of buying a license and the value of fonts is growing—thanks in part to our activities. And this means that font companies will be able to release more and more beautiful, high-quality fonts, all while generating additional revenue from compliance efforts.”
The TypeType Team
You can learn more about TypeType licenses and choose the one that suits you on this page.
FAQ
What international jurisdictions are considered when protecting font copyrights?
TypeType handles cases across different countries and takes into account the applicable jurisdiction based on where the font is used (such as a website or app), the company’s registration, and the hosting platform. The approach is tailored individually: the goal is to successfully legalize font usage without creating any reputational risks for the foundry.
Can TypeType’s service be used to monitor licenses for third-party fonts outside their own collection?
Yes, the license control service is available to partner foundries. The team can monitor the use of a partner’s fonts and help legalize these instances—handling everything from the initial search to client communication and finalizing agreements.
Exactly how is the database of font usage cases compiled?
The technical team conducts monitoring and uses proprietary software to compile a unified database of detected font usage on websites, in mobile apps, and across other sources. The database also includes instances of “past use”—situations where a font was previously used on a platform but has since been removed.
What programs or tools are used for the technical monitoring of fonts?
TypeType utilizes its own custom software tools for monitoring and analysis. This process relies on font metadata to track and guide the search for usage across the web and in applications.
Are there any limits on the volume of fonts and projects that can be tracked?
There are generally no strict limits: the volume depends on the size of the partner’s library and their case priorities. TypeType helps structure the process to focus on the cases with the highest potential, ensuring resources are used efficiently rather than spread too thin.
How does TypeType interact with major platforms (like the App Store or Google Play) when violations are detected?
If they cannot establish contact with the resource owner, TypeType may send a complaint to the hosting provider or app store regarding the unlicensed content. This is treated strictly as a last resort: the primary goal is always to connect with the owner to resolve the situation and legalize the usage, rather than “punishing” them with a block
Can a foundry use TypeType’s services if they are just starting out with fonts?
Absolutely. Partnering with TypeType requires no upfront investment, and launching the collaboration is completely free. A commission is paid only after a user successfully purchases a license. This is a highly convenient option for foundries that need to protect their fonts but don’t yet have the resources for an in-house licensing control department.
How is the commission calculated under the Revenue Share model for partner foundries?
TypeType does not charge any upfront fees: the commission only applies once a user actually buys a license. The client makes the payment directly on the partner foundry’s website, meaning the money is instantly deposited into the partner’s account. At the end of the agreed-upon reporting period, both parties compare their records and settle the commission based on a pre-approved rate.
Does TypeType support automatic integration with a foundry’s internal CRM platforms?
The foundational workflow involves sharing agreed-upon case databases and maintaining communication regarding the legalization process. If needed, TypeType is highly flexible and can adapt to the partner’s internal requirements, including specific data and reporting formats, though exact integration options depend on the specific system being used.
What measures are taken to protect data and client confidentiality when handling unlicensed usage?
Communication is handled carefully and is tailored to match the partner’s brand voice. It begins with a friendly email inquiring about their license, and escalation only occurs if this outreach is completely ignored. Furthermore, the partner foundry reviews and approves the database: they can choose to exclude certain organizations (such as non-profits) that they prefer not to contact, effectively mitigating any reputational risks.
