Founder Heiti
Founder Sans / BookSong / FangSong / Kai / Oracle
Type specimen
The specimen uses the official Google Fonts subset when available, otherwise a font installed on this device. If neither exists the browser falls back to a system font, so treat the official download page as authoritative.
About this font
In an era when 'Founder letter' became shorthand for font enforcement, Founder Type opened five fonts to free commercial publication use in 2016: Heiti (sans), BookSong, Fangsong, Kai and Oracle Bone, downloadable and usable without written licences. These are the industry standard parts - the sans with classical flare terminals, the publishing serif, the crisp pen-like fangsong, the GB-stroke-order kai, and the oracle-bone face for ancient texts and surnames - drawn by veterans Qi Li, Zhu Zhixiang and Xu Xue on decades of Foundertype craft. Not statement typefaces; compliance infrastructure for commercial publication.
Where it works best
The free grant covers commercial publication only: advertising (print, outdoor, video, web), VI and wordmarks, brochures, manuals, film credits, storefront and official-site pages, social content, packaging, printed publications. Explicitly outside the grant: embedding in apps, web fonts and @font-face, cloud font services, exclusive trademark claims on the lettering, and office use - office documents require Founder's separate paid office licence. Picks: BookSong and Heiti shine on packaging and poster body; for government-document office typesetting buy the office edition rather than leaning on this grant.
| Weights | 1 |
|---|---|
| First release | 2016 |
| Designed by | Peking University Founder Group |
| Rights holder | Founder Type |
| Scripts | Chinese |
| Licence | Founder · publication Founder Publication-Use Licence |
| Variable font | Not supported |
Licence and commercial boundaries
Licence：Founder Publication-Use Licence
Founder's named five (Heiti, BookSong, Fangsong, Kai, Oracle) are free for commercial publication only - advertising, VI, packaging, film, storefronts, social media, print - downloaded from its official site. Explicitly excluded: app/web/game/hardware embedding, cloud fonts, office-suite documents. The narrowest free grant here; check every boundary.
The grant is Founder's published commercial-licensing policy: the five fonts are free for commercial publication without written licence, but uses beyond the definition of publication - embedding and web delivery above all - are excluded, and files must come from the official site. A unilateral corporate policy that has tightened and clarified over time; for trademarks, listed-company identity assets or app-embedded text, get written confirmation from Founder support and keep the reply.
Hard restrictions
- No app/web/game/hardware embedding.
- No web fonts or cloud-font delivery.
- No office-suite document use without the office licence.
- Download only from official channels.
Commercial-use FAQ
Isn't 'Founder fonts cost money' contradicted by this free grant?
No contradiction. The vast majority of Founder's library still requires a licence; the grant covers only the five named fonts, only for commercial publication. Lanting Hei, Qingkeben Yue Song and friends online are not included.
Official channels
- Go to official download → https://www.foundertype.com/index.php/About/powerbus
- Read the original licence → https://www.foundertype.com/index.php/About/powerbus
Last verified：2026-09-07
This site is an index of publicly available information. It does not host, mirror or distribute any font file and does not warrant any licence. Rights holders may change terms, split free and paid editions, or withdraw a permission at any time. Before commercial use, verify the licence on the official page and keep a dated screenshot as evidence. For trademarks, overseas publication and large-scale embedding, consult an IP professional.