Never Use These Fonts Commercially Without a Licence: A High-Risk Watchlist
Which fonts dominate infringement claims? Which look free but hide paid clauses? This watchlist collects the fonts and scenarios most likely to end in a dispute, each paired with a compliant replacement from our library.
1. System faces: pre-installed is not licensed
Microsoft YaHei and JhengHei: Founder-owned; the Windows licence covers display and print, commercial publication must be bought separately, and claims are frequent. PingFang: fine within Apple devices, but cross-platform use, app embedding and web serving need licences (Apple/DynaLab). The 'Chinese Extra' family shipped with macOS and Office (SimSun-era Huawen faces, MingLiU, Kaiti TC and friends): mostly administered by DynaLab/Weirueshuyan - commercial publication generally requires a paid licence, even inside Office documents. System add-ons such as Segoe UI Emoji follow their component EULAs: check item by item for redistribution scenarios.
2. Foundry fonts: the claim-filing workhorses
Founder: everything except the five named free-for-publication cuts (Heiti/BookSong/Fangsong/Kai/Oracle - and only for publication) requires purchase; Lanting and co-branded series are letterhead regulars. Hanyi: most library and collab faces (Shang Wei handwriting, magpie series) are sold by licence; a 'personal edition' is never a commercial grant. Makefont: the guochao house style is annual or per-project licensing. DynaLab: the classic boundary case - some faces were free inside Alibaba's platforms only, paper collateral and standalone sites needed fresh purchases. Monotype-type shops (Mona, Wenyon, Reeji): paid by default, minus a handful of publicly declared free titles. Operating rule: if the foundry's own site does not state the font is free for commercial use in writing, it is not.
3. Indie and viral faces: emotion is the priciest licence
Ye Genyou's library spread widely as 'free' early on and later turned litigious - the packaging case for his running script is textbook. Caishild-style baby-hand faces: one e-commerce packaging suit ended in a RMB 35k judgment plus a public apology. Co-branded personal cuts under Founder/Hanyi inherit shifting individual agreements. All 'viral handwritten' faces: author statements can change with zero maintenance, so capture the full statement page before shipping. And anything marked 'personal free' on fan portals is exactly that: personal only.
4. Your safe-swap cheat sheet
Sans text/UI: Source Han Sans, HarmonyOS Sans, MiSans, Alibaba PuHuiTi. Serif text: Source Han Serif; Founder BookSong for publication; Huiwen Mincho for the letterpress vibe. Brush calligraphy: Ma Shan Zheng and Zhi Mang Xing (OFL); standard kai via Founder Kai (publication) or LXGW WenKai. Loud titles: UISDC Biaoti Hei, Smiley Sans, ZCOOL Cool Hei, Pangmen Title, Alimama ShuHeiTi. Round and cute: ZCOOL Butter, ZCOOL Happy. English UI: Inter, Roboto, Open Sans. English display: Montserrat, Playfair Display.
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.