Milk Made

Yesterday I was thinking "I bet that would look good with the font from the 'Got Milk' ads!"

So after a good amount of Google-ing, I found out the name. So, to save anyone else the trouble here is what I learned:

Font Name: Phenix American
Cost: $22
Status: commercial
Sold by: Agfa Monotype
Designer: Morris Fuller Benton
Year: 1935
Example: Here

You will need to do a good amount of kerning, but that's the "official" font and the one you'd want. Plus, the cost is pretty reasonable.

There is a knock-off version called "Borzoi" (which may or may not be free) that can be found on several sites, but it doesn't even compare to the quality of the original. Also close (and free) is Larabie's "Steelfish" (and don't overlook his "Purple Rain" inspired "Still Time" just below it). PizzaDude produced "Fake Plastic" which is similar (and free). Lastly, there is the freebie font called "Qhytsdakx" by Tepid Monkey that might do the job.

For fun, I'd say go with the freebies. For commercial work, do the right thing.

I wonder what the legality is of producing a "copycat" font? I mean, it the "original" is considered someone's intellectual property, so you'd think even a font would be protected by copyright laws. After all, Marvel and DC routinely go after comic book characters that are similar to theirs. Wouldn't the same be true of a font? It probably isn't worth anyone's while to go after the "copycats" anyway. But if I were to produce a commercial work with "Phenix American" and hadn't paid for it, I'd expect to get in trouble with Agfa. I wonder if the same is true if you use a "freeware" lookalike, would Agfa demand you pay for the real thing? Would they not care? Just something to ponder. Hmmm.....