PC Services

"From Payroll to Body Scanners"

Established 1994

PC Services (Electronics)

Timing Diagram Font

Timing Font - Licensing FAQ

This is a collection of the most common questions on licensing terms for the Timing Font that have been asked over the years it has been in existence.

What is the difference between the 'Non-Profit' and 'For Profit' License?

'Non-Profit' license is for documents used for educational projects, or documents that stay wholly within an organisation (not its resellers or distributors).

The only exception is web documentation for projects that are available free as well. In other words if you have free software or free hardware design then you can distribute documents for the project with the Timing Font embedded.

'For Profit' license is a perpetual license for the named organisation that enables them to include the Timing Font in documents that leave their offices, with products, data sheets, marketing materials and any other document in any medium.

I am a student working on a project; can I use the 'Non-Profit' font license?

If this is a student project as part of an educational course, and not for commercial purposes, you can use a 'Non-Profit' license.

This is normally limited to installing onto a desktop and laptop PC. If you wish to install on more computer systems, like a class, department or faculty computer systems, contact PC Services to seek clarification, or if a special, educational license is required.

If the project is paid for research or a university based commercial project, it will probably need standard Paid for commercial licensing contact PC Services to seek clarification.

Why do I have to request the Timing Font?

This is to keep track of requests, also to inform users when updates are available and to stop people bypassing the licensing terms.

Why do you need company/university email address?

Email address at places such as hotmail.com and gmail.com are throwaway anonymous email accounts. Any future communications about updates could just be bouncing or disappearing. This can also be used as a way to appear as a student or hobbyist when in fact they wish to use it in documents they sell with their products or services.

What happens if my company changes its name, is bought out or is part of a merger?

It is the responsibility of the new company to inform PC Services of the change in company identity, if necessary with backup documentation or third party news stories to confirm the changes. Otherwise, the new company will be deemed to be in breach of the licensing terms, whatever type of license they have.

Will a new version of the Timing Font be available?

Yes, it is planned to make an improved version available, this does not have a schedule release date yet.

Any updated version of the font will have to be paid for in any quantity, and for any usage. The older version may or may not be still available for 'Non-Profit' license terms.

All licensees that have a 'For Profit' paid for license will be sent a copy of any updates, to their last registered contact. If the update bounces or is returned for reasons suggesting a change in company identity, then the license will most likely be voided.

What do we have to do to comply with the licensing terms?

As with other Intellectual Property, like Patents, Trade Marks and Copyright notices, your document must acknowledge in the same place as other acknowledgements. You must acknowledge the Timing Font's - name, source (preferably website) and how to find PC Services.

You are of course acknowledging other Intellectual Property in your documents.

Also follow the terms of the licensing for where documents are distributed for the type of license you have.

Why must the Timing Font be embedded in the document?

Even if you keep documents within an organisation, some computers may not have the font installed, this means they will be able to view, read, and print the document as you intended it to be seen.

If you are doing a student project, you need to embed the font so your tutor, moderator or other examining person can see the diagrams.

What is a document?

A document is any computer generated file, that can be viewed or printed and is readable in any medium. This includes but not limited to movies, screen capture images, presentations, word processor documents.

I am photocopying or using outside printers to copy my documents do I need to pay for a license?

If you are using the 'Non-Profit' license, and the documents stay wholly inside the organisation that is permissible.

If the documents, even if photocopied are sent out (or sent by other means), to other parties, such as customers, distributors or resellers, then you need to purchase a 'For-Profit' license.

I do not have the Timing Font on my computer, but I copy and paste from a document with it in. Do I need a special license for the document being sent out?

Yes, you need a 'For-Profit' license as the act of copying between one document and another document will copy the embedded font into the new document as an embedded font or part of the font in use. This means you are embedding the font into your document to be sent outside your organisation.

We take a screen capture (print screen) of the document on our screen and load the image into another document or file, do we need a license?

If the document is sent outside your organisation, yes, as you have a document with font in use, and you are transferring it to another medium.

I have taken a photo of the document on screen or printout, do I need a license?

Just like the previous question, if the document is sent outside your organisation, yes, as you have a document with font in use, and you are transferring it to another medium.

I am creating movies, or presentations, do I need to buy a license?

Just like the previous question, if the document is sent outside your organisation, yes, as you have a document with font in use, and you are transferring it to another medium.

The Timing Font should be acknowledged as mentioned above in your credits or other place that you acknowledge other Intellectual Property.

What does 'in any medium' in the standard terms mean?

A medium is the method in which the document is presented, whether it is a presentation, movie, photo, paper, on screen or electronic document.

If you create a document using the Timing Font then you have used the Intellectual Property, just because you have transferred it to a different medium does not mean you are no longer using the Intellectual Property. You could not have created the original without the Timing Font Intellectual Property, so all licensing terms apply.