Decision of the European Central Bank of 19 April 2013 on the denominations, specifications, reproduction, exchange and withdrawal of euro banknotes (recast) (ECB/2013/10) (2013/211/EU)

Article 2 Reproduction rules for euro banknotes

1. ‘Reproduction’ shall mean any tangible or intangible image that uses all or part of a euro banknote as specified in Article 1, or parts of its individual design elements such as, inter alia, colour, dimensions and use of letters or symbols, which image may resemble or give the general impression of a genuine euro banknote, irrespective of:

(a) the size of the image; or

(b) the material(s) or technique(s) used to produce it; or

(c) whether or not elements of the design of the euro banknote, such as the letters or symbols, have been altered or added to.

2. Reproductions which the general public might mistake for genuine euro banknotes shall be deemed unlawful.

3. Reproductions complying with the following criteria shall be deemed lawful, since there is no risk that the general public might mistake them for genuine euro banknotes:

(a) one-sided reproductions of a euro banknote as specified in Article 1, provided that the size of the reproduction is equal to or greater than 125 % of both the length and width, or equal to or less than 75 % of both the length and the width of the respective euro banknote as specified in Article 1; or

(b) two-sided reproductions of a euro banknote as specified in Article 1, provided that the size of the reproduction is equal to or greater than 200 % of both the length and width or equal to or less than 50 % of both the length and width of the respective euro banknote as specified in Article 1; or

(c) reproductions of individual design elements of a euro banknote as specified in Article 1, provided that such a design element is not depicted on a background resembling a banknote; or

(d) one-sided reproductions depicting a part of the front side or reverse side of a euro banknote, provided that such a part is smaller than one third of the original front side or reverse side of the euro banknote as specified in Article 1; or

(e) reproductions made of a material clearly different from paper, which looks distinctly different from the material used for banknotes; or

(f) intangible reproductions made available electronically on websites, by wire or wireless means or by any other means that allow members of the public to access these intangible reproductions from a place and at a time individually chosen by them, provided that:

• (f) the word SPECIMEN (sample) is incorporated diagonally across the reproduction in Arial font or a font similar to Arial font, and

• the resolution of the electronic reproduction in its 100 % size does not exceed 72 dots per inch (dpi).

4. In the event of reproductions under paragraph 3(f),

• the length of the word SPECIMEN shall be at least 75 % of the length of the reproduction, and

• the height of the word SPECIMEN shall be at least 15 % of the width of the reproduction, and

• the word SPECIMEN shall be displayed in a non-transparent (opaque) colour contrasting with the dominant colour of the respective euro banknote as specified in Article 1.

5. The ECB and the NCBs shall, upon receiving a written request, provide confirmation that reproductions not complying with the criteria of paragraph 3, in so far as they cannot be mistaken by the general public for a genuine euro banknote as specified in Article 1, are also lawful. Where a reproduction is produced in the territory of only one Member State whose currency is the euro, requests as referred to above shall be addressed to the NCB of that Member State. In all other cases, such requests shall be addressed to the ECB.

6. Reproduction rules for euro banknotes also apply to euro banknotes that have been withdrawn or have lost their legal tender status under this Decision.