Conditions for the reproduction of Dutch banknotes

(Dutch: Voorwaarden voor het afbeelden van Nederlandse bankbiljetten)

Amsterdam, 25 August 1995

Introduction

The copyright of Dutch banknotes is held by De Nederlandsche Bank NV (The Bank). This means that the Bank may oppose the reproduction of banknotes. Since 1982, the Bank does not oppose every reproduction of Dutch banknotes, but only those which are in conflict with the 'Conditions for the reproduction of banknotes for publicity purposes (advertising etc.)'
The experiences gained by the Bank since then have resulted in the adjustment of the Conditions of 1982. The new 'Conditions for the reproduction of Dutch banknotes', entering into force on 25 August 1995, are recorded below. The announcement by the Bank regarding the reproduction of banknotes for publicity purposes (advertising etc.) (Staatscourant 1982, 161) is revoked as from that date.

Objective

The conditions set out below have been formulated in order to prevent reproduction from being taken for genuine banknotes.

This means that banknotes may not be reproduced in such a way that it is possible that a reproduction is issued as a genuine banknote or taken for a genuine banknote.

The Bank holds the view that a reproduction of a banknote meeting the conditions below will not be taken for a genuine banknote. Reproduction is therefore allowed if the following conditions are met.

Sanction

The Bank will, by virtue of its copyright, take action against any publication of a reproduction in conflict with the objective of the Bank to prevent reproductions of banknotes from being taken for genuine banknotes

General information

This announcement is without prejudice to the possibility to take legal action against the infringement of copyright (Section 26 ff., Copyright Act) and the infringement of the prohibition against copying or counterfeiting banknotes, keeping such copies or counterfeits in store or issuing then as genuine (Article 208 ff. and Article 440, Penal Code.

If the banknotes are reproduced in accordance with the objective of the Bank, the reproduction, either wholly or partly or distorted, may be prohibited if it is in conflict with the personal rights of the designers of the banknotes (Section 25, Copyright Act).

Reproduction of foreign banknotes, insofar as not prohibited by virtue of the Penal Code, may be subject to conditions of the local issuing institution.

The Bank reserves the right to amend or revoke this announcement at any time without further notice.

Conditions

Reproductions - including modified and distorted reproductions - are allowed provided that the following conditions are met:

1. the reproduction is printed on one side only.
   and
2. 1. the reproduction is printed on material clearly different and distinguishable from paper or paper-like material,
      or
   2. the reproduction is at least 190 millimetres x 100 millimetres or at most 120 millimetres x 50 millimetres,
      or
   3. the reproduction depicts at most 50% of the surface of the original banknote,
      or
   4. the colours of the reproduction differ distinctly from the main colour(s) of the original banknote.

      These colours are:

      NLG	5	:	green
      NLG	10	:	blue
      NLG	25	:	red
      NLG	50	:	orange/yellow
      NLG	100	:	brown
      NLG	250	:	purple
      NLG	1000	:	green

Information

De Nederlandsche Bank
External Relations and Information Department
P.O. Box 98
1000 AB Amsterdam
Telephone +31 20 - 524 3361
Telefax +31 20 - 524 2228

Explanation

(No official English translation of the explanation is available. The text below is translated by the web-page author from the Dutch text.)

General

The Bank will in general only defend its copyright against reproductions which can be used as genuine Dutch banknotes or could cause confusion. The main objective is to prevent confusion amongst the general public.

Reproductions of Dutch banknotes are allowed provided they confirm to the rules defined in the 'Conditions for the reproduction of Dutch banknotes'. The method used to create the reproduction is irrelevant. The conditions cover, in principle, all possible reproductions including modified or distorted reproductions. Works of phantasy which have no similarity with the original banknotes are not covered by the conditions.

The Conditions

The system of conditions is designed in such a way, that each reproduction always has to comply with condition 1 and with at least one of the possibilities of condition 2. The conditions are described in short below.

1 The reproduction must be single-sided.
With this it is expressed that the reproduction can only have one side which is similar to a banknote. The condition does not forbid to have text, a drawing or something similar at the other side, provided it does not look like a banknote.

2a The reproduction is on material which is clearly and immediately recognisable as being different from paper or paper-like material
The danger of confusion is considered to be the greatest when paper or paper-like material is used. Reproductions on other material, like plastic, stone, glass, wood or fabrics, are allowed provided they are single-sided. It must be directly clear to anybody that no paper(-like material) is used.

2b The reproduction is at least 190 millimetres x 100 millimetres or at most 120 millimetres x 50 millimetres.
Confusion is also not feared if the reproduction is considerable larger or smaller. Single-sided reproductions which comply to the minimum- or maximum sizes are allowed.

2c The reproduction displays at most 50 % of the area of the original banknote.
A partial reproduction is not considered to be confusing provided at most 50 % of the area of the original banknote is displayed and the reproduction is single-sided. The condition also applies to partial enlargements. In these cases the details of the banknote are displayed enlarged and therefore it is a partial reproduction.

2d The reproduction has a recognisably different colour than the main colour(s) of the original banknote.
A single-sided reproduction whose colour is clearly different from the original banknote is usually instantly recognisable as being different and therefore does not have a great danger of causing confusion. In the Conditions the main colours of the original banknotes are listed to make it clear which colours can not be used. A very different colour must be used, light colour differences are therefore not allowed. Displaying a note using the colour of another existing note is indeed allowed.

© De Nederlandsche Bank (The Dutch National Bank).
Third party publication allowed, provided the Conditions are published - preferably including the explanation - in whole with source reference.