European nation scraps €1 coin design amid plagiarism scandal — Analysis

A successful design authorized by the Croatian Central Financial institution seemed to be similar to a photograph taken by a British photographer
The Croatian Central Financial institution’s Forex Committee has introduced a brand new open tender for a nationwide €1 coin design on Tuesday after its earlier alternative led to a media scandal.
The design declared because the winner of the earlier contest turned out to have been copied from a photograph by Scottish photographer Iain Leach.
The nationwide facet of Croatia’s first-ever €1 coin was anticipated to function a pine marten in a reference to the nation’s forex, for the reason that mammal is named a kuna in Croatian as properly. The nation is about to modify from nationwide forex to the euro in 2023, and the design tender is part of the method.
The design that was finally chosen from the numerous submissions got here from a person recognized as Stjepan Pranjkovic. His entry featured a pine marten on a tree department pictured sidewise. Pranjkovic was then awarded 70,000 kuna ($10,636) for his successful design.
Wait, did somebody actually simply hint a photograph of a pine marten by Iain H. Leach and the Croatian Nationwide Financial institution authorized it because the design for the brand new Croatian 1 Euro coin obverse? Sure, sure apparently that’s precisely what occurred. pic.twitter.com/vuT8WfK6c5
— ⬢ Jens Wiechers ⬡ (he/him; prefers they/them) (@jwiechers) February 5, 2022
When the financial institution offered the design final Friday, it shortly raised questions on social media and in Croatian media as properly. Some had been fast to level out that the design appeared to bear a stunning resemblance to a photograph by Iain Leach taken in Scotland in 2005.
After being alerted over Twitter, the photographer said it was the primary time he had heard concerning the concern. He additionally said he was “undecided” he may do something about it, and hoped he can be awarded “a free coin” for his work.
“I want to be acknowledged formally because the photographer and to obtain a price for its use. I additionally don’t assume the one who stole my {photograph} ought to be rewarded almost 10,000 euros for one thing copied,” Leach advised the Croatian media on Monday.
Pranjkovic made no public statements amid the plagiarism allegations, however withdrew his draft design and renounced all of the rights linked to him successful the tender late final Sunday. The Forex Committee then introduced a brand new open tender for the coin artwork.
Now, all of the authors and individuals of the tender are required to submit a written assure confirming “their work was an unique mental creation made solely for the aim of the tender.” The financial institution additionally thanked the general public for “its lively position in well timed recognizing the seriousness of this necessary process.”
The brand new tender “won’t jeopardize the well timed manufacturing of the Croatian euro cash,” the financial institution stated.
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