Road signs and all public signs?

1484 Views 11 Replies 6 Participants Last post by zoeabby, Jul 14, 2018

impression4444

Discussion Starter · Jun 26, 2018

Hello,

I haven't found any topic on this and didn't know where to post this question...

I was wondering if road signs (and all signs) are of public domain? I thought yes because, say, bathroom sign doesn't belong to anyone since everyone uses it.
I mainly want to create funny shirts. So...are all public signs fair game?

Thanks,

P!erre!

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PatWibble

· #2 · Jun 27, 2018

Generic versions of most public signs are available on royalty free clip art, or you could create your own symbols.

Certain elements of some signs might be subject to copyright - large organisations might have a distinctive version of a bathroom sign for example, or a sign might contain trademarked material. Fonts could be subject to commercial licencing, or even copyright if distnctive enough.

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webtrekker

· #3 · Jun 27, 2018

Try Freepik - https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/road-sign

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TABOB

· #4 · Jun 27, 2018

DOT road signs are public domain, Crown copyright, etc.
These can be used freely without asking for permission, as long as they are not used to mislead people. You should also put a reference in the label or tag.

https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/knowledge/faqs/faq_general.htm#printq5
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/traffic-sign-images

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impression4444

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 27, 2018

PatWibble said:
Generic versions of most public signs are available on royalty free clip art, or you could create your own symbols.

Certain elements of some signs might be subject to copyright - large organisations might have a distinctive version of a bathroom sign for example, or a sign might contain trademarked material. Fonts could be subject to commercial licencing, or even copyright if distnctive enough.

...mmm...that is a great idea you just gave me...I think this is a fine forum!

I will be quite easy for me to design my own sign and I can twist them into anything...

Thanks,

P!erre!

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PatWibble

· #6 · Jun 28, 2018 (Edited)

TABOB said:
DOT road signs are public domain, Crown copyright, etc.
These can be used freely without asking for permission, as long as they are not used to mislead people. You should also put a reference in the label or tag.

https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/knowledge/faqs/faq_general.htm#printq5
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/traffic-sign-images

Useful links. To use accurately as eps you will probably need to get hold of Margaret Calverts' 'Transport' font family.

Here is a link for free download, as well as Motorway Permenant and Motorway Tempory.
http://www.cbrd.co.uk/fonts

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Amw

· #7 · Jun 28, 2018

PatWibble said:
Useful links. To use accurately as eps you will probably need to get hold of Margaret Calverts' 'Transport' font family.

Here is a link for free download, as well as Motorway Permenant and Motorway Tempory.
Fonts | CBRD

I dont live in the UK and so I dont know all the laws there...
But on the page you linked to it clearly says "The fonts are not meant for commercial use" and that if you want to use them in a commercial project, you can buy it from one of the sites they listed.

Like I said...I dont know the laws in the UK. But the way it is written it sounds like you should be buying the font pack if your going to profit from the project.

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PatWibble

· #8 · Jun 28, 2018

Amw said:
I dont live in the UK and so I dont know all the laws there...
But on the page you linked to it clearly says "The fonts are not meant for commercial use" and that if you want to use them in a commercial project, you can buy it from one of the sites they listed.

Like I said...I dont know the laws in the UK. But the way it is written it sounds like you should be buying the font pack if your going to profit from the project.

It is a grey area, that probably wouldn't hold any water. The commercial disclaimer you refer to is very ambiguous -probably intentialy so - in that it uses words such as 'may' and 'might' instead of 'must not' or 'can't'.

The fonts in question were created in 1963, long before computers were common place, under a govt. contact. The fonts are 'Crown Copyright' which means they are owned by the govt. They are covered by the 'Open Govt. Licence' terms which clearly allows commercial use. ( as confirmed in the 'read me' file attached to the download.)

The Crown Copyright exists until 70 years after the death of the creator - Margaret Calvert - who is still alive.

The link to the URW version takes us to a font called Transport D Medium, which has a slightly different name, and was created in 2001 ( citing the original creators but not the Crown Copyright).

I would suggest that the two fonts are different items ( although almost indistinguishable) and as long as you are using the one that specifies Crown Copyright you are covered for commercial use.

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TABOB

· #9 · Jun 28, 2018

PatWibble said:
It is a grey area, that probably wouldn't hold any water.

It's not a grey area.

The font's are part of the signs, and the signs are free to use. Installing the fonts in your computer is a different story, but who would know?

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PatWibble

· #10 · Jun 29, 2018

TABOB said:
It's not a grey area.

The font's are part of the signs, and the signs are free to use. Installing the fonts in your computer is a different story, but who would know?

Nothing in the licence to stop you installing onto a computer or using commercialy. The font is there to be used by anyone who needs to, including proffesional sign makers producing highway signs with the requisite kerning, spacing and charecter set.
The Grey area lies around the missleading information on the CBRD site. The URW++ version is not the 'original version', mearly their own digitisation of an existing typeface. The K-type version is a 'look alike' version. Although the original designer was involved in the A2 'New Transport' ( £64K for a full licence accross all platforms!) it doesn't stop anyone using the original.

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TABOB

· #11 · Jun 29, 2018

PatWibble said:
Nothing in the licence to stop you installing onto a computer or using commercialy. The font is there to be used by anyone who needs to, including proffesional sign makers producing highway signs with the requisite kerning, spacing and charecter set.
The Grey area lies around the missleading information on the CBRD site. The URW++ version is not the 'original version', mearly their own digitisation of an existing typeface. The K-type version is a 'look alike' version. Although the original designer was involved in the A2 'New Transport' ( £64K for a full licence accross all platforms!) it doesn't stop anyone using the original.

We are saying the same thing. Digitization of public domain material is not copyrightable, but somebody could claim that the "software" containing it is. Under US law in particular typefaces are not copyrightable, but fonts (considered to be software) are. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property_protection_of_typefaces

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zoeabby

· #12 · Jul 14, 2018

of course you can use freely

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