Font embedding clarification

“When using the GPL for a font, what happens to documents that use the
font? As far as I know, there is no problem using GPL version 2 or 3
for fonts. Now, you might want to state explicitly that you don’t
regard documents that have text in the font as being linked with the
font, and let those documents be licenced in any way people wish. You
could put an exception, an additional permission on the font, saying
that you don’t insist on anything about the licensing of documents
which use the font.”
- RMS, http://fsfeurope.org/projects/gplv3/tokyo-rms-transcript.en.html#q13

Could such an additional permission be included as standard in GPLv3?

Perhaps more generally, writing example/recommended Additional Terms,
such as for font embedding, could be included in the license text
itself, or at least a link to a FSF website that will be short and
able to stand the test of time.

Can ‘artistic integrity’ be protected while maintaining software freedom, like the SIL Open Font License - http://scripts.sil.org/ofl - does? Since GPL compatibility is useful since most existing Free Fonts are under the GPL, this could make GPLv3 FontAddition the best license for the new but emerging Free Font Movement!

I wrote about this in a long and reflective way on my blog at http://understandinglimited.com/2006/11/20/art/ and the above comment from a Free Culture artist nicely defined what I mean by ‘artistic integrity.’

To ensure there is no confusion, the SIL OFL uses a list of reserved names. This requirement has been deemed “Free” by the FSF already, and other important community organisations, as described on the “Go For OFL!” page at http://unifont.org/go_for_ofl/

Perhaps this could be included as a permitted additional requirement?

The issue is, if you change my art without making it clear you have changed it, you risk confusion as to whether the art is original/modified, or whether it’s my work or you work. Either ensure there is no confusion, or obtain the author’s approval to adopt the change as sympathetic. Or simply don’t make the change.

You have a right to create a derivative, but not to misrepresent the original.