Hasbro Accused of Piracy Over MLP Font

[Al-1701]

Apparently one of the fonts used for My Little Pony was not theirs to use.  They've been accused of piracy by Font Brothers Americas who claim "Generation B" is their intellectual property and want their slice of the very fat pony pie.  Hasbro has essentially responded with "See you in court" and this could be a big suit give Friendship is Magic's financial success.

So, a little Hasbro court drama to start the year.

Along with the discussion, posting of Barnacle is allowed.

[Leave a Whisper]

All these years and they just now noticed? Yeah. Good luck with that crazy font people.

[Al-1701]

I know.  It is a font listed on Font Brother's website.  The design is exactly like the font most commonly used by My Little Pony for just about everything besides the logo.  It's the font "Friendship is Magic" is printed in.  It's on Hasbro and Hasbro-licensed material.  This has the potential to be a nasty blow to Hasbro.

However, it's been five years.  They only bothered to check now?

[Leave a Whisper]

I know.  It is a font listed on Font Brother's website.  The design is exactly like the font most commonly used by My Little Pony for just about everything besides the logo.  It's the font "Friendship is Magic" is printed in.  It's on Hasbro and Hasbro-licensed material.  This has the potential to be a nasty blow to Hasbro.

However, it's been five years.  They only bothered to check now?

Some people are rather oblivious

[CloudyGlow]

From an article on this "In addition, Font Brothers demand the destruction of all products and material which utilize the infringing font."
 
Seems like overkill.

[Al-1701]

Especially since that means literally everything My Little Pony.  Again, it's the front "Friendship is Magic" is printed in.  Good grief, if they win on that front, they would have to pull the show.

[Majesty]

Wow the show has been going on for how long now and they just noticed?  I don't think they would have to end the show just use another font, hopefully one they make up.  They could use the G1 MLP font that would be cool.

[Al-1701]

They would need to go back and re-edit that new font into all the previous episodes.

Does anyone know who decided to use Generation B as the defining font of this generation?  Was it Faust?

[Wardah]

The weird thing is they acknowledged it as the "official font of My Little Pony" on their site. I think they are just after a nice fat settlement.

[LadyMoondancer]

Interesting . . . The font in question does look a lot like the one Hasbro uses on the back of G4 backcards a lot, but I am not font-knowledgeable enough to know if it's the same.  Edit:  Nevermind, Hasbro itself refers to it as the font in question.

Hasbro's marketing team are probably the ones who chose the font.

The other question is, do the Font Brothers HAVE the legal right to this font?  Their website describes them as having "a library" of fonts.  Do they personally design all the fonts on their site?  Do they buy the rights to them from individual font creators?  Or??

I'll be very surprised if Hasbro ends up changing the font.  At most, they will pay the Font Bros enough money to make the problem go away.

[banditpony]

...
Font Brother's has acknowledged that Hasbro is allowed to use this font.

I BELIEVE that the whole argument is that they are not getting compensated for everywhere that the font is being used. Part of it is the font is being given out to third parties and third parties are using it.
(IE different companies making plushies, different companies making books, multiple companies making stickers...)

[ringwraith10]

Oh, snap! Hold onto your pony merch, guys -- it's going to get rare and valuable!

But seriously. This sounds like the kind of thing that will end up being settled out of court... though who knows? We may have a whole new pony generation over this.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

*gets on the rollercoaster!*

[Al-1701]

[link removed ~ hathorcat]

Here is the official civil complaint.  Basically, Hasbro did not buy the proper license to use the font to the extent they did.  This font has become intimately tied to My Little Pony's current identity, which appears to be beyond the scope of the intent of the license they had recieved.  Also, they have distributed the software related to this font without Font Brothers' permission.  That would include to DHX for production of the show.

[Snapdragon]

Bring on G5! Bring on G5!

Seriously though, I would be deeply amused if this is what brought G4 to an end. Unlikely, but wild!!

How the heck does a massive company like Hasbro not triple-check all of their licenses and such??