2017-04-12

Decision on the Conditions for Reproducing Convertible Mark Banknotes and Coins

The Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued this Decision to regulate the reproduction of convertible mark banknotes and coins to prevent public confusion and protect the currency's reputation. It establishes specific technical thresholds for lawful reproduction, such as size scaling and resolution limits, while prohibiting any depiction that damages the standing of the state or the central bank. Any reproduction falling outside these safe harbors requires prior written consent from the Central Bank.

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CENTRAL BANK OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Pursuant to Article 47, Paragraph 2 of the Law on the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Official Gazette of BiH", 1/97, 29/02, 13/03, 14/03, 9/05, 76/06 and 32/07) and Article 49, Paragraph (2) of the Regulation of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, UV-104-01-1-116/15 of December 28, 2015, the Governing Board of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at its 1st session held on January 31, 2017, adopts

DECISION on the conditions under which convertible mark banknotes and coins may be reproduced

Article 1. (Subject) (1) This Decision regulates the conditions under which convertible mark banknotes and coins, issued by the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter: the Central Bank and banknotes and coins), may be reproduced in accordance with the Law on the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina. (2) The banknotes and coins referred to in Paragraph (1) of this Article include banknotes and coins in circulation, as well as banknotes and coins withdrawn from circulation in accordance with the regulations of the Central Bank governing the issuance, basic characteristics, and release into circulation of banknotes and coins.

Article 2. (Reproduction of Banknotes) (1) Material reproduction of a banknote, within the meaning of Article 1, Paragraph (1) of this Decision, refers to images made on a substrate (in the same or different dimensions) of the entire banknote or a part of it, or of specific characteristics of the banknote established by the regulation of the Central Bank on the basic characteristics of banknotes. (2) Non-material reproduction of a banknote, within the meaning of Article 1, Paragraph (1) of this Decision, refers to publicly available (on websites or in other electronic forms) digital images of the entire banknote or a part of it, or of specific characteristics of the banknote established by the regulation of the Central Bank on the basic characteristics of banknotes. (3) Reproduction of a banknote that may cause confusion among the public that it is an original banknote is considered illegal. (4) Reproduction of a banknote that, by its appearance or in any other way, damages the reputation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Central Bank, and the domestic currency, the convertible mark, is not permitted. (5) Reproduction of a banknote that meets the following conditions is considered lawful because there is no risk of causing confusion among the public that it is an original banknote: a) in the case of material reproduction, provided that:

  1. only the obverse or reverse of the banknote is reproduced, and the length or width of the reproduced banknote is 125% or more, or 75% or less, in relation to the original size of the banknote, or
  2. both the obverse and reverse of the banknote are reproduced, and the length and width of the reproduced banknote are 200% or more, or 50% or less, in relation to the original size of the banknote, or
  3. only a certain characteristic of the banknote or a part of it smaller than 40% of the total surface area of the banknote is reproduced, and this is done on a background that clearly differs from the design of the original banknote, or
  4. the banknote is reproduced on a material that clearly differs from the paper or other material used to make banknotes, b) in the case of non-material reproduction, under the following conditions:
  5. the resolution of the digital image of the banknote at the original size of the banknote does not exceed 72 dpi (dots per inch), and
  6. the word: SPECIMEN is placed diagonally on the digital image of the banknote, in a color clearly different from the background of the banknote, the length of which should be at least 75% of the length of the reproduction, and the height of the word should be at least 15% of the width of the reproduction.

Article 3. (Reproduction of Coins) (1) Reproduction of coins, within the meaning of Article 1, Paragraph (1) of this Decision, refers to an image made on a substrate (in the same or different dimensions) of whole examples of coins or a part of them, i.e., specific characteristics of coins established by the regulation of the Central Bank on the basic characteristics of coins. (2) Reproduction of coins that may cause confusion among the public that it is an original coin is considered illegal. (3) Reproduction of coins that, by its appearance or in any other way, damages the reputation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Central Bank, and the domestic currency, the convertible mark, is not permitted. (4) Reproduction of coins that meets the following conditions is considered lawful because there is no risk of causing confusion among the public that it is an original coin: a) if the diameter of the reproduced coin is increased by at least 100%, or decreased by at least 50%, or b) if only a certain characteristic of the coin, or a part of it smaller than 40% of the total surface area of the original coin, is reproduced, and this is done on a background that clearly differs from the original design, or c) if the coin is made of a material that clearly differs from the material used to make coins.

Article 4. (Reproduction of Banknotes and Coins with Obtained Consent) (1) For any material or non-material reproduction of banknotes and coins that does not meet the conditions set out in Articles 2 and 3 of this Decision, prior consent from the Central Bank must be obtained. (2) The consent referred to in Paragraph (1) of this Article is issued by the Central Bank based on a written application, in which the purpose of reproduction and a detailed description and depiction of the reproduced banknote or coin are specified. (3) In deciding on the application referred to in Paragraph (2) of this Article, the Central Bank will particularly consider whether the reproduced banknote or coin may cause confusion among the public that it is an original banknote or coin, or whether the reproduced banknote or coin, by its appearance or in any other way, damages the reputation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Central Bank, and the domestic currency, the convertible mark.

Article 5. (Entry into Force) This Decision enters into force on the day of publication in the "Official Gazette of BiH", and shall be applied from May 1, 2017.

Article 6. (Publication) This Decision shall also be published in the "Official Gazette of the Federation of BiH", the "Official Gazette of the Republika Srpska", and the "Official Gazette of the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina".

Article 7. (Repeal) With the application of this Decision, the Decision on the conditions under which banknotes and coins may be reproduced ("Official Gazette of BiH", 5/10) ceases to be valid.

Number: UV-122-01-1-22/17 LjJ January 31, 2017 Sarajevo

Chairman of the Governing Board of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina GOVERNOR dr. Senad Softić