Rib Apr 23, 2025
Today Melissa Lewis over on BlueSky pointed out that the font used in the infamous "You wouldn't steal a car" anti-piracy campaign was actually designed by Just van Rossum, whose brother, Guido, created the Python programming language (bsky.app/profile/melissa.news/post/3ln7hx5rhcj2v)

She also pointed out that the font had been cloned and released illegally for free under the name "XBAND Rough". Naturally, it would be hilarious if the anti-piracy campaign actually turned out to have used this pirated font, so I went sleuthing and quickly found a PDF from the campaign site with the font embedded (web.archive.org/web/20051223202935/http://www.piracyisacrime.com:80/press/pdfs/150605_8PP_brochure.pdf).

So I chucked it into FontForge and yep, turns out the campaign used a pirated font the entire time!
Melissa Lewis (@melissa.news)

TIL: The 2000s piracy PSA used a font designed by the fantastic Just van Rossum, whose brother Guido created the Python programming language. https://fontsinuse.com/uses/67480/piracy-it-s-a-crime-psa

Bluesky Social
Show threadBuck Moon
@Rib this may be apocryphal, but I remember hearing the backing track for it was also used without paying the creator royalties
Apr 23, 2025 at 9:47pmWeb
Show threadNischayApr 24, 2025
@bootblackcub @Rib
It's not apocryphal, it actually happened: https://torrentfreak.com/rights-group-fined-for-not-paying-artist-for-anti-piracy-ad-120717/
Rights Group Fined For Not Paying Artist For Anti-Piracy Ad * TorrentFreak

Five years ago a composer created music for use in a one-off anti-piracy video. However, without his permission it was used time and again on dozens of commercial DVDs such as Harry Potter. Even in the wake of a huge controversy over "corrupt" and "mafia-like" practices, the local music rights group that got involved in the case failed to pay him the money he was owed. The case went to court and this week the music rights group lost.

Show threadJarominoApr 24, 2025
@thatloststudent @bootblackcub @Rib Unfortunately it is apocryphal, that is a different ad campaign than the one being referenced here. https://torrentfreak.com/sorry-the-you-wouldnt-steal-a-car-anti-piracy-ad-wasnt-pirated-170625/
Sorry, the "You Wouldn't Steal a Car" Anti-Piracy Ad Wasn't 'Pirated' * TorrentFreak

Who doesn't know the Piracy It's a Crime campaign? You wouldn't steal a car, right? But would you use pirated music for an anti-piracy advert? According to popular belief, this is what the creators of the campaign did, but 'unfortunately' it's not true.