Shot of US money ??

[twocik23]

Are you allowed to use real money in a shot without having any copyright/trademark issues with the government or US treasury department ?

[mikkowilson]

As a work of the US government, US money is complelty copyright free.


(So you can make copies.. right? :huh: )

- Mikko

[twocik23]

Great to know, thank you !

[chapelgrovefilms]

As a work of the US government, US money is complelty copyright free.


(So you can make copies.. right? :huh: )

- Mikko

Mikko, can you give us a link to an authoritative source for this?

[mikkowilson]

The Copyright Act of 1976 specifically exempts works created by the federal government from copyright protection, continuing a provision from the previous copyright acts. Section 105 states:
Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government, but the United States Government is not precluded from receiving and holding copyrights transferred to it by assignment, bequest, or otherwise.
Section 101 clarifies what this includes:
A “work of the United States Government” is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties.

http://digital-law-online.info/lpdi1.0/treatise8.html


- Mikko

[chapelgrovefilms]

http://digital-law-online.info/lpdi1.0/treatise8.html


- Mikko

Okay, so it's not protected by copyright. It still may be illegal to reproduce images of currency. As you pointed out, counterfeiting is a prime example.

It's probably fine, but if it were me I'd want a definitive legal opinion. But that's just me.

[chapelgrovefilms]

Here we go...

Photographic or other likenesses of other United States obligations and securities and foreign currencies are permissible for any non-fraudulent purpose, provided the items are reproduced in black and white and are less than three-quarters or greater than one-and-one-half times the size, in linear dimension, of any part of the original item being reproduced. Negatives and plates used in making the likenesses must be destroyed after their use for the purpose for which they were made. This policy permits the use of currency reproductions in commercial advertisements, provided they conform to the size and color restrictions.

Motion picture films, microfilms, videotapes, and slides of paper currency, securities, and other obligations may be made in color or black and white for projection or telecasting. No prints may be made from these unless they conform to the size and color restrictions.

http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/money_illustrations.shtml