So was the font.
this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2026
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I would be very cautious about that.
US font IP law has some unusual quirks.
Historically, the US took the position that typefaces could not be copyrighted.
Later on, case law established that digital font files
maybe only vector ones, not sure, but it did apply to vector font files
could be copyrighted.
What this resulted in was a common practice in the US that I recall in the 1990s or so having people print out vector fonts (which put them in a non-copyrighted form), then scan them back in, vectorize them, and make a usable font. The font wasn't great, only approximated the letterforms of the original, and I doubt that they recreated kerning correctly, but it worked more-or-less. Then they'd sell sell bulk collections of these recreated fonts.
The fonts were knockoffs, but that doesn't mean that they were infringing under US copyright law.
That may be what was going on with that font.
The comp.fonts FAQ has an extended discussion on the topic (and based on that, raster font files also are indeed not copyrightable, just vector).
I think the creator of the was interviewed at some point and they acknowledged that the font was a knockoff of the font he made. If I am misremembering, please correct me.
People keep repeating this, but it's not true.
https://torrentfreak.com/sorry-the-you-wouldnt-steal-a-car-anti-piracy-ad-wasnt-pirated-170625/
So, there was an anti piracy advert, and it had pirated music, but it was a different one?
TIL
Iirc it was the font for the text that was used without permission
I don't understand this marketing campaign at all. it doesn't make any sense to me. I can't imagine a person who would say "no. I would definitely not download a car." Of course you would bitch that makes no goddamn sense
this campaign must have had the desired emotional appeal impact on exactly 0 people
The actual phrase was "you wouldn't steal a car". The idea was to equate piracy and theft. It wasn't really taken seriously even then.
Also, piracyisacrime.com
Like the old "this is your brain on drugs" ad, with eggs frying in the pan. WTF you talkin' bout? Now I got the munchies, and I'm too stoned to cook. Just pop Hot Pocket in the microwave.
And the font too
And it made people more likely to pirate media.
This ad was how I learned digital piracy existed
The ad was what inspired me to download a car
Streisand effect at it again
And it made people more likely to steal cars.
In any case, the ad is so much just like the supposedly anti-drug D.A.R.E. ads which only managed to create the opposite effect.
was it car music?
This is a great piece of trivia
Edit: what’s the problem? It IS. I’m not being rude or sarcastic. I appreciate this weird piece of information.
Some people are incredibly against comments that don't directly provoke continued conversation on the subject, because 'I like this' is conveyed with an upvote.
That, or you have a stalker due to a different comment/post/etc.
It's not true.
No.