font-embedding-and-licensing

name	font-embedding-and-licensing
description	Use when a chosen font must be loaded or embedded in web, DOCX, PPTX, PDF, or XLSX with verified permission. Unlike premium-font-scan, this implements format-specific embedding; type choice remains with font-selection-and-pairing.
metadata	{"portable":true,"category":"01-typography-and-fonts","compatible_with":["claude-code","codex"]}

Font Embedding And Licensing

Acknowledgement: Shared by Peter Bamuhigire, techguypeter.com.

Use When

• A typeface is chosen and must now be loaded/embedded into a web page, DOCX, PPTX, PDF, or XLSX so it renders correctly on machines that lack it.
• Verifying that an embedding is licence-compliant before shipping a client deliverable.

Do Not Use When

• No font has been chosen yet — use font-selection-and-pairing first.

Required Inputs

Input	Supplied by	Required?	Why
Chosen face and exact files	Typeface workflow	yes	Identifies what will be embedded
Licence evidence	Foundry, vendor, or manifest	yes	Establishes lawful use
Formats and distribution scope	Delivery brief	yes	Selects method and rights

• The chosen typeface(s) and their licence basis (from premium-font-scan).
• The output format(s) and whether the artifact is distributed externally.

Workflow

1. Confirm the licence permits embedding for this format and distribution (doctrine/references/licensing-and-embedding.md). If not, fall back to an OFL alternative and state the substitution.
2. Load per format (doctrine/references/embedding-by-format.md):
   • Web: woff2 + @font-face (or Google Fonts link); variable font where available; fallback listed after the chosen face; font-display: swap.
   • DOCX / PPTX: apply by name, embed, subset ("characters used only").
   • PDF: ensure the generator embeds rather than referencing system fonts.
   • XLSX: apply by name; for pixel-perfect branded output, deliver as PDF instead.
3. Set the fallback as a safety net, never as the design.
4. Verify the rendered artifact shows the intended face (not a substitute) and report file- size impact for embedded documents.

Anti-Patterns

• Embedding a font whose licence forbids redistribution.
• Shipping DOCX/PPTX without subsetting (bloat) or PDF that references system fonts (substitution).
• Treating the fallback as the design.
• Assuming local rendering proves embedding; verify on a clean environment.
• Subsetting away required glyphs or OpenType tables; test the final artefact.

Quality Standards

• Stop release if permission, glyph coverage, or actual embedding cannot be verified.
• Inspect the final distributable, not only its source or local preview.
• Record font version, subset scope, fallback, and file-size impact.

Outputs

Output	Consumer	Evidence / acceptance
Embedding specification	Implementer	Method, files, subset, fallback, and rights basis
Embedded distributable	End user	Clean-machine or inspection-tool verification
Licence and size record	Delivery owner	Source and before/after size captured

• The artifact with the chosen font correctly loaded/embedded, licence-verified, with fallback and (for documents) subsetting applied.

Examples

• See examples/embedding-worked-spec.md for verified web and document embedding decisions.

Decision Rules

Condition	Decision	Wrong-choice failure
Web delivery	Serve WOFF2 with explicit faces and fallback	Excess payload or substitution
Editable Office document	Embed and subset when permitted	Client machine substitutes or file bloats
PDF delivery	Require embedded font objects	Rendering changes elsewhere
XLSX must be pixel-exact	Supply a PDF companion	Font references are not portable
Rights forbid required embedding	Stop and substitute an OFL face	Unlawful redistribution

Capability Contract

Read is required; edit and execute only for authorised implementation and verification. Do not alter binaries, remove licences, or distribute raw files beyond granted terms. Network may verify authoritative rights.

Degraded Mode

Without embedding or render inspection, provide a conditional specification and verification checklist, marking delivery unverified. Recover with an OFL fallback when rights cannot be established.

• examples/embedding-worked-spec.md — a worked embedding spec for one chosen face (Clash Display, Fontshare) across web (woff2 @font-face + variable + font-display), DOCX (embed + subset), and PDF (embed-not-reference), each with its licence check (OFL vs Fontshare redistribution rule) and file-size impact.

References

• doctrine/references/embedding-by-format.md, licensing-and-embedding.md.