Reproduction and Use of Images of Cayman Islands Currency (2025-12-23)

Summary

This is a public notice from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) reminding the general public, vendors, businesses, advertisers, and media outlets that reproducing or using images of Cayman Islands currency requires CIMA's prior written authorisation. It applies broadly to anyone who might reproduce currency images, not just regulated financial entities, and covers physical, digital, or other forms of reproduction, including on merchandise, clothing, and promotional materials.

• Legal risk: Unauthorised use or imitation of Cayman Islands currency may breach the Monetary Authority Act and other laws, including copyright, resulting in civil and/or criminal liability.
• Recent problem flagged: Vendors have been selling merchandise with unauthorised imitations of Cayman Islands banknotes, including the $50 note.
• Penal Code Section 311: This provision criminalises selling, offering, or promoting articles bearing a design imitating legal tender banknotes or coins without lawful authority, with penalties of up to six months' imprisonment or a fine.

CIMA directs anyone wishing to reproduce currency images to seek approval in advance via its Currency Division, and states it will pursue enforcement action against breaches. This is essentially an informational/warning notice rather than a new regulatory instrument, but it does reiterate an existing legal requirement to obtain prior authorisation before reproducing currency images.

Key obligations

• Obtain CIMA's prior written authorisation before reproducing, duplicating, publishing, or otherwise using images of Cayman Islands currency, in whole or in part, in any form (physical, digital, or other).
• Obtain CIMA's prior written authorisation before using Cayman Islands banknote images on commercial articles such as clothing, merchandise, or promotional materials.
• Ensure any authorised reproductions do not distort or improperly display the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II or place it in offensive contexts, per CIMA's Reproduction Guidelines.
• Do not sell, offer, or promote articles bearing a design imitating any Cayman Islands banknote or coin that is legal tender without lawful authority (Penal Code s.311).

Applies to

public, vendors, businesses, advertisers, media outlets