Straight, Banana's! (feel-look-tilt)

According to the European Central Bank homepage. Euro banknotes incorporate state-of-the-art security features. This makes them very difficult to forge. Counterfeits can be quickly and easily spotted. No technical devices are required. Always check more than one feature (using the feel-look-tilt method). If you are not sure about the authenticity of a banknote, compare it with one you know is genuine.

Ok lets have a "feel", yep it feels good, they look nice too.. but.. "tilt"

*GAME OVER*

Document Security Systems. said in a lawsuit filed Monday in Luxembourg that all 30 billion euro bank notes in circulation infringe on a patent it acquired this year that was issued by the The European Patent Office in 1999. It is seeking unspecified royalties from the European Central Bank based in Frankfurt, Germany.

The The European Patent Office issued a patent to the estate of the late Ralph Wicker, whose family business devised ways to protect against counterfeiting of currencies. Wicker died in 1997, and all his patents were bought out by Rochester-based Document Security Systems earlier this year.

"As a champion of pan European innovation protection, the European patent office knows it has a key part to play in implementing the Lisbon Strategy"

So writes Alain Pomidou (president) in his forward to the 2004 EPO anual report. He also writes

"The European Patent Office has taken on the task of promoting this process with its expertise and know-how, working in close co-operation with the EU institutions".

Arse and Elbow eh

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