Fonts.com is now licensing some products through a new EULA that permits EOT font embedding for non-commercial purposes. This is one small advancement toward the goal of offering Web designers the same level of typographic freedom that print designers enjoy. The following FAQs should server as an introduction to the EOT format, how it is implemented and how it can be licensed. If you have further questions or are interested in licensing fonts in EOT format for commercial purposes, please contact us.
What is EOT?
Standing for Embedded OpenType®, EOT is a compact font format designed for embedding fonts on Web pages. The EOT format was developed by Microsoft and uses Monotype Imaging’s MicroType® Express compression technology. Microsoft introduced support for EOT with the Internet Explorer® browser, version 4. Internet Explorer is the only browser currently supporting the technology.
How does EOT work?
In an EOT-enabled workflow, the EOT font is downloaded to the machine of the Web site visitor and stored in a temporary folder, much the way graphics are handled. The browser then uses the downloaded EOT font to render the text of the Web page. Text set in an EOT font can be copied and pasted by users (although the text will appear in a different font when pasted) and can be read by search engines. Web designers can use multiple EOT fonts on a single Web page as well as combinations of EOT and resident fonts. The EOT format employs two types of security that protect the rights of type designers. The format is encrypted, preventing the Web site visitor from using a downloaded EOT font in any application except for the browser. EOT fonts can also be linked to a domain. This prevents a font from being used on a Web site other than the one it was licensed for.
Why would a Web designer want to use EOT fonts or another Web font embedding scheme?
If fonts are not embedded into a Web page, a Web designer must specify the use of system fonts that are resident on the site visitor’s machine, or risk the chance of fonts defaulting to an unintended design. Since few designers are willing to run this risk, most Web pages are designed using system fonts. If a technology standard for font embedding can be established, Web designers will have the same level of typographic choice and freedom as print designers.
How is an EOT font created?
EOT fonts can be created using Microsoft's Web Embedding Fonts Tool (WEFT), or various other free utilities. WEFT can be obtained here. The utility modifies a TrueType® or OpenType (TrueType flavored only) font supplied by the user to create the EOT file. The user enters the Web domain that will be linked to the EOT file. WEFT also allows the user to “subset” the font during the process. This removes characters from the font that are not used by the Web page, thereby reducing the file size of the font.
Are there examples of EOT fonts in use that I can review?
Yes. Several sample pages are provided on the Microsoft Web site that show the EOT format in use. Each sample demonstrates how enhanced typographic selection can add impact and quality to the design of a Web page. Web pages must be viewed with the Internet Explorer browser. View the samples in the “demonstrations” section of this page.
What is CSS?
Standing for cascading style sheets, CSS is a language used to control the formatting and presentation of a Web document. For example, the colors, fonts and text size used by a given Web page can be controlled through CSS. CSS allows the page content to be separated from the page formatting. This provides more flexibility and control for specifying presentation elements while reducing the complexity and redundancy of content.
What is @font-face?
@font-face is the syntax used in the source code of a Web page used to specify text formatting properties such as font family, weight and style. One of the attributes of @font-face command is “src:” which can be used to specify either local or embedded font files. Embedded font files could include EOT, TrueType or yet another format.
Can an EOT font be linked to multiple domains?
Yes, an EOT font can be linked to multiple domains. Naturally, Monotype Imaging requires a font to be licensed for each domain uses on the font. If a font is licensed for several domains and a company believes that its visitors will access the various sites that use the font, using a single font that is linked to several domains may ease the logistics of the Web developer while preventing the site visitor from having to download the EOT font multiple times.
Does a font need to be licensed multiple times if additional domains are used for staging a Web site?
No, as long as the additional domains are accessed only by internal employees and are used solely for the staging and testing of the site residing on the domain that the font is licensed for. For example, if the Gill Sans® Light font is licensed for use on ForExample.com, an additional license is not needed to use the font on TestForExample.com because TestForExample.com can only be accessed by internal employees and is used solely for testing and staging ForExample.com.
What browsers support EOT?
EOT is currently supported exclusively by the Internet Explorer browser. According to a recent Forrester Research report citing research conducted during the second half of 2008, IE is the enterprise browser of choice, with 78 percent of enterprises using it as a default.
What products on Fonts.com are covered by Monotype Imaging’s end user license agreement (EULA) that permits EOT use for non-commercial purposes?
All products from the Monotype, Monotype Imaging, ITC, Linotype and Image Club foundries are covered by this EULA. It is possible that additional foundries will choose to distribute their products on Fonts.com through this EULA or add these rights to their own EULAs.
What is the W3C?
The World Wide Web Consortium is an international group where member organizations, a full-time staff and the public work together to develop Web standards. The mission of the W3C is “to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing protocols and guidelines that ensure long-term growth for the Web.” Monotype Imaging joined the W3C to help establish and standardize a secure font format for font embedding on the Web.
Why is Monotype Imaging supporting EOT?
We have been lobbying within the W3C for the establishment of a technology standard for secure font embedding on the Web. It is our intention is to help a new font format be established that will be embraced by browsers in general – and at this time, until other alternatives present themselves, EOT is the appropriate format to support.
I purchased a Monotype, ITC, Linotype or Image Club font before Monotype Imaging’s EOT EULA was introduced. Do I have the right to use these font in EOT format?
Customers are bound to the license agreement they agreed to. In order to have the right to use these fonts in EOT format, they must purchased and licensed through the new EULA.