Hallo everybody!
My name is Alex and I am new at dafont.com. I really like it. As far as I understand it is possible to use Fonts also commercially for designs to sell. But upfront you need a permission from the creator/rightholder, of course. But sometimes there are no ReadMe files so I do not have any contact details to ask for permission. At another Font I had an E-Mail-address, but this E-Mail-address is not working anymore so I cannot get in touch with the creator.

What can I do? Of course I would like to do everything right and I do not want to hurt any rules / rights. I am also willing to pay, but again: I just would like to know what I can do.

Thanks in advance und take care, Alex

Hi Alex,
It seems you're doing the right thing.
Could you provide us the font names ?
This would allow us to help you find some other way of contact, when possible.
marty666

Hi marty666,

yes, of course and thanks for your kind help.

It is: Sportzs Dingbat. The creator is Graham Meade (GemFonts), but as I said his E-Mail-address seems not to work and I do not have the possibility to send a private message. Or do I oversee something?

Thanks, Alex

From what i've real in Luc Devroye's bible, Meade was very active in the type scene at the end of the 90s / early 00s.
He released a font last year though.
http://luc.devroye.org/fonts-38219.html

The only email address i found is gem@c031.aone.net.au

Yes, this is the E-Mail-address I tried, but I received an answer that it is not valid anymore. Any other ideas? :-)

Sorry, nope.
I'd say if you have no reply, it's safe to use his fonts for commercial use, as they're marked as "100% free".

From Lucs's website, it says
"Prolific Australian type designer who originally created many freeware/shareware typefaces, but has recently begun asking money for some of his fonts."

Sportzs Dingbat is quite old, marked as 100% free.
As long as your can prove that you sent an email and never get a reply, i'd say it's OK.
(This is just my opinion)

https://web.archive.org/web/20010416235139/http://www.typesource.com/Presents/Gemfonts/dings2.html

"Conditions of use as of 10/4/2000 These conditions override all previous conditions
This font is Testware, in that you can use it totally free of charge, COMMERCIAL AND NON COMMERCIAL, without asking permission."

"1. This font can be used for personal and commercial use, with the understanding that this font was created as a hobby and no claim to professionalism is claimed."

I did my best to try to locate any means of reaching him. The guy really doesn't want to be found!

nice find !

The address in provided in 1998 in your link (in Clayton South, Victoria) is probably no more valid as well.
The house was recently demolished (between 2015 and 2018) to be replaced by a new housing block.

That's some next level google-fu!

a bit creepy actually

Well, I really thank you, guys. Appreciate your assistance! Sounds good to me, but indeed really strange that Graham "can't be found". I could not find him on Twitter and co. either.
New here at this website and the first font I asked for permission is such a tough thing!

Cheers again!

Creepy ?


Nah. Its pretty easy finding my new contact.
I do not use Twitter, nor Facebook, Im to old to know that new fangled technology.
Its fontype at hotmail dot com.

And yes, All my Gemfonts stuff is totally free to use, in all manners, without any permission. You don't even need to g=credit me either. Can't get a better deal than that.

All best
Graham Meade (Now no longer in Clayton, but alive and senile in Hallam)


PS, stopped using the old email years ago as it was getting about ten thousand spam messages a day.

Hi,
Sorry I am really new here.

I am attempting to self publish my first YA novel, which I initially wrote for my daughter. It is a pirate tale, and I was scouring the internet for a font that has a pirate feel, for the front cover, when I came across the Graham Meade's Booter font. It is absolutely stunning! I know that it is freeware and should be ok to use, but I wanted to drop you an email, out of respect to check, and to compliment you on it. I had similar issues with the old emails. Would you be happy for me to give you and your font a mention at the back?

Alex B

Feel free, its the same deal. In regard to credit, that's up to you.

Thanks
Graham

Thank you Graham, really love your fonts!
I will of course give it a mention in the back of the book, to spread the word!

Warmest regards,

Alex