A legal stoush could see hundreds of thousands of commemorative $2 coins pulled from circulation and destroyed.
The Royal Australian Mint has been taken to caught by its Canadian counterpart over the Possum Magic series of coins based on the much-loved children’s book.
The Canadian corporation is demanding the Royal Australian Mint destroy the coins, which it says infringe upon its patent for printing colour onto metal.
A legal stoush could see hundreds of thousands of commemorative $2 coins (pictured) pulled from circulation and destroyed
The Royal Australian Mint has been taken to caught by its Canadian counterpart over coins (lef, right) which it says infringe upon its patent for printing colour onto metal
Damages and court costs are also sought as part of the lawsuit in the Australian Federal Court, BBC News reported.
The Possum Magic coins were launched in August last year through Woolworths, and feature coins with three different ‘magic dust’ ring designs.
The popular 1983 kid’s book was written by Mem Fox with illustrations by Julie Vivas, and both women were asked to approve each of the designs.
Objections to the coins were made clear by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2015, and an attempt was made to settle the dispute in an informal manner.
The popular 1983 kid’s book was written by Mem Fox (left) with illustrations by Julie Vivas (left), and both women were asked to approve each of the designs
The Possum Magic coins were launched in August last year through Woolworths, and feature coins with three different ‘magic dust’ ring designs inspire by Possum Magic (pictured)
The original claim related to an Australian Remembrance Day commemorative coin with a poppy in the centre, but was expanded to include the Magic Possum coins.
A counter claim has since followed, with the Australian mint attempting to overrule the patent, as it has insufficient ‘novelty’ compared to formerly-used methods.
‘The Royal Australian Mint is vigorously defending its position and has subsequently filed a counterclaim in the Federal Court,’ it told SBS News.
‘The Royal Australian Mint is vigorously defending its position and has subsequently filed a counterclaim in the Federal Court,’ it said (pictured is the Royal Canadian Mint)