Mr Trond Eklund
Norges Bank
P.O. Box 1179
Bankplassen 2
0107 Oslo
Norway
Tel.: +47 2 231 6301
The design of Norwegian banknotes and coins is subject to copyright protection pursuant to Act No. 2 of 12 May 1961 relating to Copyright in Literary, Scientific and Artistic Works, etc. (Copyright Act). The guidelines are designed to promote compliance with the law in this area. Without the prior consent of the originator, any form of modification in design will in principle be in conflict with the law.
The copyright is owned partly by Norges Bank and partly by the artist. The artist transfers the right to use the design (motif) to Norges Bank for the central bank’s ordinary use of the banknote or coin design. The residual copyright, i.e. the right to use the work of art (motif) in another context, is retained by the artist. The copyright expires 70 years after the artist’s death.
The right to modify or use the entire banknote or coin design, or a part thereof, in a context other than ordinary use by the central bank requires prior consent by the owner of the copyright. The Norwegian Visual Artists Copyright Society (BONO) handles copyright matters on behalf of visual artists.
The guidelines for the reproduction of Norwegian banknote and coin designs shall contribute to ensuring that:
- reproductions are not confused with genuine banknotes and coins;
- the originator is protected.
The guidelines apply whether the entire banknote or coin design is reproduced or just a part thereof, irrespective of purpose or method.
The guidelines do not apply to Norges Bank’s information and communication activities.
The reproduction of a banknote in printed media must be in accordance with the following guidelines in order to avoid the risk of confusion (all the conditions must be satisfied):
- Banknote designs must not be reproduced as a “banknote” with an obverse and a reverse. If the banknote design is reproduced on one side, the other side must not in any way resemble a banknote design.
- Reproductions of banknotes must not be the same size as actual notes. If a reproduction is smaller, it shall be at most 50% as long and 50% as wide as the original. If a reproduction is larger, it shall be at least 150% as long and 150% as wide as the original. These conditions also apply to the reproduction of part of a banknote design.
- Producing data files with the intention of reproducing a banknote design with a resolution higher than 72 dpi is not permitted.
The reproduction of a banknote in electronic media must be in accordance with the following guidelines in order to avoid the risk of confusion (all the conditions must be satisfied):
- Data files (for production or storage) for reproducing entire banknotes or parts thereof must not have a resolution higher than 72 dpi.
- The reproduction must have the word “SPECIMEN” overprinted diagonally across the image of the banknote so that the text covers no less than 50% of the length of the banknote and the letters of the word measure no less than 15% of the height of the banknote.
For more information on the use of banknote and coin designs, contact Norges Bank,
tel. +47 2 231 6000.