National identity is manifested not only in language, traditions, and symbols, but also in the way the state “presents itself” in writing. Fonts are not just graphic elements, but an important component of visual culture that shapes the perception of texts, the identity of state documents, and communication with society. In the new realities of Ukraine, the issue of a national font goes beyond design; it touches on language, law, and the symbolic affirmation of sovereignty.
The Ukrainian parliament has supported the initiative to develop a national font as part of a broader project in the field of language and legal culture. It should become not only a graphic standard for Ukrainian laws, but also a cultural marker that enhances the recognition of state communication and separates the modern Ukrainian system from the consequences of Soviet Russification.
This initiative involves much more than just choosing a font — it is part of a longer journey to strengthen the Ukrainian language in the legal field and state communications.
Details about the national font
The development of the national font was supported by the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy as part of a resolution to strengthen the role of the Ukrainian language. Lawmakers propose to introduce a single standard font to be used in the texts of laws, resolutions, and other regulatory documents. The draft provides for the approval of this standard by March 1, 2026.
According to the initiators, the unified font will not only be a practical solution for document design, but also part of the state identity — a visual code that reflects Ukrainian sovereignty even in graphic forms. Ukrainian font traditions already have deep cultural roots: from the works of Heorhii Narbut to modern fonts such as UAF Sans and other Ukrainian designs. The national font should be a logical continuation of this tradition.
In addition, in order to improve the quality of the linguistic environment in the field of lawmaking and harmonize Ukrainian legal terminology with European Union law, the draft resolution provides recommendations, in particular regarding:
- improving the linguistic quality of the texts of Ukrainian laws and other regulatory acts;
- improving the standards of law-making, in particular regarding the drafting of acts of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;
- ensuring the translation and publication in the official language of Ukraine’s international treaties that have not been published in Ukrainian;
- ensuring the content and functioning of the Unified Glossary of Legal Terms, coordinating it with the translation of the EU Acquis Glossary.
According to Olena Orlyuk, director of the Ukrainian National Office of Intellectual Property and Innovation (UNOIPI), they plan to work with stakeholders to explore the relationship between intellectual property and the official language in the international cultural and legal spheres. They also plan to participate in the development of regulatory and methodological support for the Ukrainian transliteration of artists’ names outside Ukraine, the preparation of explanations regarding the connection between the linguistic form of a name and copyright protection, and the development of a position on correcting erroneous or colonial forms of names in international registries.
“It is important to create a mechanism for official confirmation of the correct Ukrainian transliteration for artists and to counteract historical and contemporary forms of cultural appropriation,” Olena Orlyuk believes.
Fonts as intellectual property
It is important to remember that fonts are intellectual property. Fonts can be protected in various ways: as copyrighted works, as industrial designs, or even as trademarks if a particular graphic style is sufficiently distinctive and recognizable. Font protection is not only a matter of design, but also of legal status, which guarantees control over the use of this element of visual code.
The practical significance of such protection lies in the ability to control the use of the font, avoid unauthorized copying or use of the font for commercial purposes without permission, and create transparent rules for those who develop or implement font systems. Therefore, the national font can become not only part of state symbolism, but also a separate instrument of legal regulation and industrial culture.
The national font is not just a new set of letters or a typeface for texts. It is part of state communication, cultural identity, and the legal field, emphasizing Ukrainian identity in everything related to writing and legislation. Its development and implementation raise questions 
about the legal protection of such works, their status as intellectual property, and the establishment of clear rules for their use in the public and private spheres.
If you are a font creator, designer, brand team, or company working with IP, it is important to understand how to protect your font solutions, avoid infringing on the rights of other authors, correctly formalize the legal status of graphic products, and safely implement them in your projects. We can help you with this—we are a law firm with expertise in intellectual property: from registering copyrights, trademarks, and industrial designs for fonts to supporting their use in commercial projects. Contact us to confidently navigate the world of IP and turn your creativity into a protected asset.
