Reproducing Banknotes

Guidelines

The Reserve Bank of Australia consents to the use of reproductions and images or partial images of past and present Australian banknotes that meet the following conditions.

1. In the case of physical reproductions or images other than images referred to in condition 2 or condition 3 below, the reproductions or images must be:
   • less than three-quarters or greater than one and a half times the length and width of the genuine banknote they reproduce; and
   • one-sided only (that is, no banknote artwork should appear on the reverse of the reproduction or image).
2. In the case of electronic images other than images referred to in condition 3 below, when viewed at 100 per cent of the image size, the reproductions must:
   
   • be less than three-quarters the length and width of the genuine banknote they reproduce; and
   • have a resolution not exceeding 72dpi.
3. In the case of images of genuine banknotes which do not meet conditions 1 and 2 and which appear in film, video or other means of recording moving images, the relevant images or footage must not be capable of being used to create reproductions capable of misleading people to believe they are genuine banknotes.
4. All digital files, negatives, master plates or other files, tools or devices that contain or store an image of, or are used in the creation of, an image or reproduction referred to in condition 1 or condition 2, whether partial or complete, and whether physical or electronic, must be permanently destroyed or deleted after their use.
5. The Reserve Bank of Australia's name is not to be associated with any reproduction or image.
6. The reproduction or image must not change or distort any banknote image or partial image in an inappropriate or derogatory manner and the reproduction or image must not be used in an inappropriate or offensive context.
7. Any person reproducing a banknote or creating an image of a banknote in reliance on this consent acknowledges by doing so that neither the Reserve Bank of Australia nor any of its officers or employees is liable for any consequences of the making or the publication or other use of any reproduction or image of a banknote.

Reproductions or images of part of a banknote must meet the same requirements as reproductions or images of complete banknotes.

Other Considerations

The Reserve Bank of Australia, as copyright owner, reserves the right to object to any reproduction or image of an Australian banknote which it believes is in breach of condition 6. The Reserve Bank may determine in its absolute discretion whether to object to a reproduction or image on the ground that condition 6 has not been met.

Persons and entities choosing to reproduce or create images of Australian banknotes must:

• form their own view on whether the relevant conditions have been met; and
• accept the risk that the Reserve Bank of Australia as owner of the copyright may after publication form a different view to the view that they have formed on condition 6, and object to the reproduction or image on the grounds that it does not meet condition 6.

Accordingly, persons and entities choosing to reproduce or create images of Australian banknotes should carefully consider the nature of the reproduction or image and the context in which it is proposed to be used before proceeding.

The Reserve Bank of Australia will not consider requests for approval of specific reproductions or images or of the use of reproductions or images in a particular context. Any such requests will be returned to the person seeking approval without a view being expressed by the Reserve Bank of Australia. This cannot be interpreted as express or implied approval of the reproduction or image or express or implied confirmation that all relevant conditions have been met. The fact that the Reserve Bank of Australia has received and returned without comment a request for approval of a specific reproduction or image will not prevent the Reserve Bank of Australia later objecting to the reproduction or image on the grounds that one or more relevant conditions has not been met. If there is any doubt about whether a proposed reproduction or image meets the relevant conditions, then the safest course is not to proceed with the reproduction or image.

Persons and entities making reproductions of banknote designs should also be aware that the Copyright Act 1968 recognises certain moral rights of the designers of images, including their right not to have images subjected to derogatory treatment, which would include doing anything that is prejudicial to the designer's honour or reputation. Complying with the above conditions does not guarantee that a reproduction does not infringe this right. Furthermore, the Reserve Bank of Australia does not give advice on whether any reproduction infringes or is likely to infringe the designer's moral rights.