I’m an author, typographer, programmer, and lawyer. Like millions of other authors, artists, and programmers, my work was copied for the training datasets of commercial generative-AI systems without consent, credit, or compensation. The tech world told us to adapt. Wish granted—after 12 years away, I reactivated my law license and invented the first set of cases in the US challenging the legality of generative AI. I now serve as co-counsel, representing fellow authors, artists, and programmers. I also provide legal and technical research and consulting to other law firms. I have served as an expert witness on typographic matters. I have a visual-studies degree from Harvard University and a law degree from UCLA. I live in Los Angeles with my wife Jessica, an appellate lawyer.
Before law school, I had a career as a typographic designer. Starting in 2008, I combined my interests in law and typography. I created the website and book Typography for Lawyers and designed the MB Type font library, both of which are now used by thousands of lawyers and judges worldwide. My font Equity is used for published opinions by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Court of Appeals of Georgia. The Seventh Circuit recently wrote “believe Butterick. His book and web site include many examples of what to emulate—and what to avoid.” AsymaDesign, LLC v. CBL & Assocs. Mgmt., Inc., 103 F.4th 1257, 1261 (7th Cir. 2024).