Submission request to W3C (W3C Team Comment)
This document specifies the WOFF font format. This format was designed to provide lightweight, easy-to-implement compression of the font data, suitable for use in conjunction with the @font-face CSS declaration. Any TrueType/OpenType/Open Font Format file can be losslessly converted to WOFF for Web use (subject to licensing of the font data); once decoded by a user agent, the WOFF font will display identically to the original desktop font from which it was created.
The WOFF format also allows additional metadata to be attached to the file; this can be used by font designers or vendors to include licensing or other information, beyond that present in the original font. Such metadata does not affect the rendering of the font in any way, but may be displayed to the user on request.
The WOFF format is not expected to replace other formats such as TrueType/OpenType/Open Font Format or SVG fonts, but provides an alternative solution for use cases where these formats may be less performant, or where licensing considerations make their use less acceptable.
Copyright for the Submission is held by the Authors, but the material is made available in accordance with the provisions of the W3C Document License, as stated below by each Submitter and Author. Should the Submission not be used as a contribution towards a W3C Activity, change control of the Submission shall remain with the Authors.
Microsoft Corporation hereby grants to the W3C a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide right and license under any Microsoft copyrights on this contribution, to copy, publish and distribute the contribution under the W3C document licenses.
Additionally, should the Submission be used as a contribution towards a W3C Activity, Microsoft Corporation grants a right and license of the same scope to any derivative works prepared by the W3C and based on, or incorporating all or part of, the contribution. Microsoft Corporation further agrees that any derivative works of this contribution prepared by the W3C shall be solely owned by the W3C.
Mozilla Foundation hereby grants to the W3C a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide right and license under any Mozilla copyrights on this contribution, to copy, publish and distribute the contribution under the W3C document licenses.
Additionally, should the Submission be used as a contribution towards a W3C Activity, Mozilla Foundation grants a right and license of the same scope to any derivative works prepared by the W3C and based on, or incorporating all or part of, the contribution. Mozilla Foundation further agrees that any derivative works of this contribution prepared by the W3C shall be solely owned by the W3C.
Opera Software ASA hereby grants to the W3C a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide right and license under any Opera copyrights on this contribution, to copy, publish and distribute the contribution under the W3C document licenses.
Additionally, should the Submission be used as a contribution towards a W3C Activity, Opera Software ASA grants a right and license of the same scope to any derivative works prepared by the W3C and based on, or incorporating all or part of, the contribution. Opera Software ASA further agrees that any derivative works of this contribution prepared by the W3C shall be solely owned by the W3C.
Type Supply hereby grants to the W3C a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide right and license under any Type Supply copyrights on this contribution, to copy, publish and distribute the contribution under the W3C document licenses.
Additionally, should the Submission be used as a contribution towards a W3C Activity, Type Supply grants a right and license of the same scope to any derivative works prepared by the W3C and based on, or incorporating all or part of, the contribution. Type Supply further agrees that any derivative works of this contribution prepared by the W3C shall be solely owned by the W3C.
LettError hereby grants to the W3C a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide right and license under any LettError copyrights on this contribution, to copy, publish and distribute the contribution under the W3C document licenses.
Additionally, should the Submission be used as a contribution towards a W3C Activity, LettError grants a right and license of the same scope to any derivative works prepared by the W3C and based on, or incorporating all or part of, the contribution. LettError further agrees that any derivative works of this contribution prepared by the W3C shall be solely owned by the W3C.
We are not aware of any existing or pending patents that relate to the technology described in this Submission. Nevertheless, for the avoidance of any doubt, the Submitters and Authors offer the following statements.
Microsoft Corporation agrees to offer licenses according to the W3C Royalty-Free licensing requirements described in section 5 of the 5 February 2004 W3C Patent Policy for any portion of the Submission that is subsequently incorporated in a W3C Recommendation.
Mozilla Foundation agrees to offer licenses according to the W3C Royalty-Free licensing requirements described in section 5 of the 5 February 2004 W3C Patent Policy for any portion of the Submission that is subsequently incorporated in a W3C Recommendation.
Opera Software ASA agrees to offer licenses according to the W3C Royalty-Free licensing requirements described in section 5 of the 5 February 2004 W3C Patent Policy for any portion of the Submission that is subsequently incorporated in a W3C Recommendation.
Type Supply agrees to offer licenses according to the W3C Royalty-Free licensing requirements described in section 5 of the 5 February 2004 W3C Patent Policy for any portion of the Submission that is subsequently incorporated in a W3C Recommendation.
LettError agrees to offer licenses according to the W3C Royalty-Free licensing requirements described in section 5 of the 5 February 2004 W3C Patent Policy for any portion of the Submission that is subsequently incorporated in a W3C Recommendation.
We suggest that the Consortium start a Working Group whose mission is to produce a W3C Recommendation concerning the deployment and use of web fonts by refining the Submission, addressing implementation experience and interoperability feedback.
To help with this work, the Submitters and Authors expect to provide assistance to the Consortium as needed with document editing and sample implementation and testing.
Code to create WOFF fonts from standard TrueType/OpenType/OFF fonts, and to decode the WOFF format for use with existing font APIs, has already been made available.
Inquiries from the public or press about this Submission should be directed to:
this 8th day of April, 2010