Are TOS and TNG fonts copyrighted?

[TrickyDickie]

A few years ago, I walked into a bank in the town where I was living at the time and I noticed that all of their publications were done in the Next Generation font. I can also recall seeing at least one billboard that was advertising something that had nothing to do with Star Trek that was in the TOS font.

Are those fonts copyrighted by the studio, so that companies would have to get permission to use them or be in violation of law, or are they in the public domain?

 

[22 Stars]

Kind of. The fonts are sold, one as Star Trek, and the other is Next Gen (the credits for Next Gen are in the font Crillee) But as long as it's the original font, presumably obtained legally, they can be used at will.

 

[Maurice]

Here's the detailed answer (link).

But the long and short of it is this:

First, the short answer in the USA: Typefaces are not copyrightable; bitmapped fonts are not copyrightable, but scalable fonts are copyrightable...

...may involve original computer instructions entitled protection under the Copyright ...the creation of scalable font output programs to produce harmonious fonts consisting of hundreds of characters typically involves many decisions in drafting the instructions that drive the printer. The expression of these decisions is neither limited by the unprotectable shape of the letters nor functionally mandated. This expression, assuming it meets the usual standard of authorship, is thus registerable as a computer program.'' 57 FR 6202.''

In layman's language, what's copyrightable is the DATA/CODE that draws the font, not the visual representation of said font. So if you use a tool to create a font that looks just like an existing font, you can only copyright the typeface data (code to draw the vectors), not the design/look of it (bitmaps don't count).

 

[22 Stars]

Spotting Trek fonts is a fun thing to do, some deli on 55th St here in Manhattan uses the TOS Trek Film font and it always brings a smile to me.

 

[Therin of Andor]

some deli on 55th St here in Manhattan uses the TOS Trek Film font and it always brings a smile to me.

Ever see a "Star Trek Removals" van? Their signwriting was a direct steal. Amazing they got away with that one. They were all over New York during my visit in January 1984, and I even looked them up in the phone book and went down to their depot hoping to snap a fun pic. Was never really quick enough whenever one went whizzing by. The company is now defunct, I understand.

In my fanzine publishing days, I'd go into local office supply stores and stare at the rows and rows of Letraset rub-down lettering, looking for Star Trek-like fonts. There was an excellent TMP-style one.

 

[Sector 7]

While some of the original font code is copyrighted, there are many similar fonts available for download. Many such fonts are created by fans for other fans. Two such sites are Tal Shiar and Simply the Best.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Crillee looks a lot like TNG's typeset. It's possible this could have been the baseline font with some minor modifications. This may have also actually been the font the OP spotted in the bank.