Currency in Advertising
Author: Patrick Mirandah, Patrick Mirandah & Co.

The Malaysian Central Bank’s guideline governing the reproduction of currency states:

“Except with the permission of the Bank, no person shall, in any size, scale or colour, use any photograph of or any drawing or design resembling any note or coin or part thereof, in any advertisement or on any merchandise or products which that person manufactures, sells, circulates or otherwise distributes”.

Advertisements of currency are now emerging as one of the latest forms in which advertisers are using to cash in on. Common to financial advertisements, most advertisements on banks and financial institutions adopt wholly or partly, illustrations of a currency or in certain situations, a number of currencies, in their advertisements. This latest form of advertising is not uncommon in Malaysia, as can be seen from a variety of advertisements that feature the Malaysian currency, be it in the print or electronic media.

If you think that advertising of currency can be done without obtaining prior permission, think again. In Malaysia, the custodians of the Malaysian Ringgit (the currency name which it is known as) and the Malaysian Central Bank, have a set of guidelines on the reproduction of the Malaysian currency. The guidelines indicate that prior approval would have to be obtained before advertising the Malaysian currency. As advertising is always evolving and possibly open to abuse, it is no wonder that the Malaysian authority have in place a system of regulations on the use of the Malaysian currency.

The rules differ in different countries as to whether you can reproduce their currency. Bank of Latvia banknotes and coins can be used in advertising, illustrations, publications etc.; however, those preparing such reproductions must make sure that it is impossible to confuse them with real money. Such reproductions must be of a distinctly different size and/or be clearly marked 'sample' etc. The Bank of Latvia owns the copyright to the appearance of Latvian banknotes and coins and recommends that they be reproduced fairly and correctly. In regards to advice for a foreign exchange advertisement, the clearance will depend from country to country.