Mint backs down on penny-ante royalties

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OTTAWA, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- The Royal Canadian Mint has relented on demands for royalties from a folk musician whose CD album art included copyrighted images of pennies.

Musician Dave Gunning's CD "No More Pennies" is due for release Tuesday and the first 2,000 copies of its cover art feature various images of the Canadian penny, which are due to be taken out of circulation beginning next spring.

The mint had told Gunning they would waive copyright fees on the first 2,000 CDs, but wanted $1,200 for subsequent releases of 2,000 albums.

The Halifax, Nova Scotia, folk singer's plight gained international attention this week and Thursday, the mint issued a release acknowledging its policy needs re-examination.

"The Mint's recent interaction with Mr. Gunning has brought attention to our current intellectual property policy," the statement said. "We now recognize that our policy as it is today may not consider the individual needs and circumstances of those who request to use our images.

"As a result, the Mint has made the following two decisions. First, we will allow Mr. Gunning to use the image of the penny on subsequent reprints of his CD's artwork at no cost."

Gunning had announced he would be collecting pennies at coming fall concerts to donate to a children's hospital.