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A 2005 brochure for the “Piracy. It’s a Crime” campaign reportedly used a clone of a typeface associated with the campaign—but that evidence does not establish which font appeared in the famous “You Wouldn’t Steal a Car” video.
What the new allegation says
In a report by Futurism, Frank Landymore says a 2005 brochure for the Motion Picture Association’s “Piracy. It’s a Crime” campaign used XBAND Rough. The report describes XBAND Rough as a clone of FF Confidential, a typeface created by Just van Rossum in 1992. Investigative reporter Melissa Lewis contacted van Rossum, who characterized XBAND Rough as an “illegal clone.”
That is a reported allegation, not a court finding. The evidence discussed concerns the brochure, which was shared on the campaign group’s website in 2005—not a technical examination establishing the font used in the PSA video.
What the brochure does—and does not—show
The campaign material
The report says the brochure used XBAND Rough rather than FF Confidential. This is the specific basis for the new irony: campaign material condemning piracy may itself have used a typeface described by its creator as an illegal clone.
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The video remains unverified
The brochure does not confirm which font the iconic PSA itself used. Futurism presents the brochure as strong evidence pointing in that direction, but the video’s font choice remains unestablished. It would therefore be inaccurate to say the ad definitively used a pirated font.
How this fits the “You Wouldn’t Steal a Car” campaign
The PSA was released in 2004 as part of the “Piracy. It’s a Crime” campaign. According to Futurism, the campaign group—formerly known as the Motion Picture Association of America and now the Motion Picture Association (MPA)—ran the PSA in theaters and on home movie releases.
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- THICKER PAPER: 4x thicker than typical store-bought poster (0.22mm vs 0.05mm), 235 g/m2: Our posters are printed on paper that is 4 times thicker than the paper typically used for store-bought posters. While most posters are printed on paper that is 0.05mm thick, our product is printed on paper that is 0.22mm thick (235 g/m2). This increased thickness gives our posters a more substantial and high-quality feel, and makes them more resistant to tearing or damage.
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- SHIPS WELL PROTECTED: Shipped in mailing tube to prevent bending: To ensure that our posters arrive in pristine condition, we ship them in a sturdy mailing tube that prevents bending or creasing during transit. This tube is made from thick, durable cardboard and is designed to protect the poster from damage during shipping. When the poster arrives, it can be easily removed from the tube and displayed immediately.
- READY FOR FRAMING: Suitable for framing: Our posters are sized to fit standard frames, making it easy to display them in your home or office. The dimensions of our posters are carefully chosen to fit a variety of frame sizes and styles, so you can find the perfect frame to complement your decor. Whether you choose to hang your poster on its own or in a gallery wall display, it is sure to be a stunning focal point.
The font story is separate from earlier speculation that the PSA’s music was pirated: Futurism reports that those music allegations were false. The current claim concerns a typeface in supplementary campaign material, with only an unconfirmed possible connection to the video.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the typeface’s creator reportedly said
Futurism reproduces a statement by van Rossum from a TorrentFreak interview: “I knew my font was used for the campaign and that a pirated clone named XBand-Rough existed. I did not know that the campaign used XBand-Rough and not FF Confidential, though. So this fact is new to me, and I find it hilarious.” The statement is attributed to van Rossum through Futurism’s account of the interview.
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- MUSEUM QUALITY: Printed on museum-quality photo paper: Our product is printed on satin-finish photo paper that is typically used in museums and art galleries to display high-quality prints. This paper has a smooth surface and a high color gamut, which means that it is capable of producing vivid and accurate colors. It is also thicker than standard poster paper, which gives it a more substantial and durable feel.
- THICKER PAPER: 4x thicker than typical store-bought poster (0.22mm vs 0.05mm), 235 g/m2: Our posters are printed on paper that is 4 times thicker than the paper typically used for store-bought posters. While most posters are printed on paper that is 0.05mm thick, our product is printed on paper that is 0.22mm thick (235 g/m2). This increased thickness gives our posters a more substantial and high-quality feel, and makes them more resistant to tearing or damage.
- SUPERIOR INK: Produced using archival-grade ink rated for 80+ year fade resistance: We use a special type of ink in our printing process that is rated for fade resistance of 80 years or more. This means that our posters will maintain their color and vibrancy for many decades, even if they are exposed to sunlight or other environmental factors that can cause fading. Our archival-grade ink is also acid-free, which further helps to preserve the quality of our prints.
- SHIPS WELL PROTECTED: Shipped in mailing tube to prevent bending: To ensure that our posters arrive in pristine condition, we ship them in a sturdy mailing tube that prevents bending or creasing during transit. This tube is made from thick, durable cardboard and is designed to protect the poster from damage during shipping. When the poster arrives, it can be easily removed from the tube and displayed immediately.
- READY FOR FRAMING: Suitable for framing: Our posters are sized to fit standard frames, making it easy to display them in your home or office. The dimensions of our posters are carefully chosen to fit a variety of frame sizes and styles, so you can find the perfect frame to complement your decor. Whether you choose to hang your poster on its own or in a gallery wall display, it is sure to be a stunning focal point.
Rank #4
- MUSEUM QUALITY: Printed on museum-quality photo paper: Our product is printed on satin-finish photo paper that is typically used in museums and art galleries to display high-quality prints. This paper has a smooth surface and a high color gamut, which means that it is capable of producing vivid and accurate colors. It is also thicker than standard poster paper, which gives it a more substantial and durable feel.
- THICKER PAPER: 4x thicker than typical store-bought poster (0.22mm vs 0.05mm), 235 g/m2: Our posters are printed on paper that is 4 times thicker than the paper typically used for store-bought posters. While most posters are printed on paper that is 0.05mm thick, our product is printed on paper that is 0.22mm thick (235 g/m2). This increased thickness gives our posters a more substantial and high-quality feel, and makes them more resistant to tearing or damage.
- SUPERIOR INK: Produced using archival-grade ink rated for 80+ year fade resistance: We use a special type of ink in our printing process that is rated for fade resistance of 80 years or more. This means that our posters will maintain their color and vibrancy for many decades, even if they are exposed to sunlight or other environmental factors that can cause fading. Our archival-grade ink is also acid-free, which further helps to preserve the quality of our prints.
- SHIPS WELL PROTECTED: Shipped in mailing tube to prevent bending: To ensure that our posters arrive in pristine condition, we ship them in a sturdy mailing tube that prevents bending or creasing during transit. This tube is made from thick, durable cardboard and is designed to protect the poster from damage during shipping. When the poster arrives, it can be easily removed from the tube and displayed immediately.
- READY FOR FRAMING: Suitable for framing: Our posters are sized to fit standard frames, making it easy to display them in your home or office. The dimensions of our posters are carefully chosen to fit a variety of frame sizes and styles, so you can find the perfect frame to complement your decor. Whether you choose to hang your poster on its own or in a gallery wall display, it is sure to be a stunning focal point.
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What can be concluded
- The reported evidence concerns a 2005 campaign brochure, not a definitive identification of the font in the 2004 PSA video.
- Futurism says the brochure used XBAND Rough, which it describes as a clone of FF Confidential, created by van Rossum in 1992.
- The “illegal clone” characterization is attributed to van Rossum; the report does not establish a court ruling on infringement.
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