IIRC:
A .ttf font contains instructions for the computer on how to draw the font, not just a bitmap -- so it is considered a program, and is protected by US copyright law like any other program.
A typeface, on the other hand, cannot be copyrighted in most countries.
That means that is is legal to take a commercial font, create a bitmap image of the letters, and use it in your commercial game. You cannot, however, legally include a commercial .ttf file without a license from the creators.
You'll find that the vast majority of .ttf's you can find online are copyrighted, so there would be resitrctions to using them as-is... If the font file is public domain, you're fine either way.
(One problem I noticed, though, is that there are *tons* of copyrighted fonts that are found and incorrectly classified as public domain on many of the font collection CD's and internet websites... When in doubt, go for the bitmap route instead.
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