diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/Block/Catalog/Product/Edit.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/Block/Catalog/Product/Edit.php
index b1f053e3fcd..a7891bb257d 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/Block/Catalog/Product/Edit.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/Block/Catalog/Product/Edit.php
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ protected function _prepareLayout()
                 'back_button',
                 $this->getLayout()->createBlock('adminhtml/widget_button')
                     ->setData([
-                        'label'     => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Back'),
-                        'onclick'   => Mage::helper('core/js')->getSetLocationJs($this->getUrl('*/*/', ['store' => $this->getRequest()->getParam('store', 0)])),
-                        'class'     => 'back',
+                        'label' => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Back'),
+                        'onclick' => Mage::helper('core/js')->getSetLocationJs($this->getUrl('*/*/', ['store' => $this->getRequest()->getParam('store', 0)])),
+                        'class' => 'back',
                     ]),
             );
         } else {
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ protected function _prepareLayout()
                 'back_button',
                 $this->getLayout()->createBlock('adminhtml/widget_button')
                     ->setData([
-                        'label'     => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Close Window'),
-                        'onclick'   => 'window.close()',
-                        'class'     => 'cancel',
+                        'label' => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Close Window'),
+                        'onclick' => 'window.close()',
+                        'class' => 'cancel',
                     ]),
             );
         }
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ protected function _prepareLayout()
                 'reset_button',
                 $this->getLayout()->createBlock('adminhtml/widget_button')
                     ->setData([
-                        'label'     => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Reset'),
-                        'onclick'   => Mage::helper('core/js')->getSetLocationJs($this->getUrl('*/*/*', ['_current' => true])),
-                        'class'     => 'reset',
+                        'label' => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Reset'),
+                        'onclick' => Mage::helper('core/js')->getSetLocationJs($this->getUrl('*/*/*', ['_current' => true])),
+                        'class' => 'reset',
                     ]),
             );
 
@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@ protected function _prepareLayout()
                 'save_button',
                 $this->getLayout()->createBlock('adminhtml/widget_button')
                     ->setData([
-                        'label'     => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Save'),
-                        'onclick'   => 'productForm.submit()',
-                        'class'     => 'save',
+                        'label' => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Save'),
+                        'onclick' => 'productForm.submit()',
+                        'class' => 'save',
                     ]),
             );
         }
@@ -86,9 +86,9 @@ protected function _prepareLayout()
                     'save_and_edit_button',
                     $this->getLayout()->createBlock('adminhtml/widget_button')
                         ->setData([
-                            'label'     => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Save and Continue Edit'),
-                            'onclick'   => Mage::helper('core/js')->getSaveAndContinueEditJs($this->getSaveAndContinueUrl()),
-                            'class'     => 'save continue',
+                            'label' => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Save and Continue Edit'),
+                            'onclick' => Mage::helper('core/js')->getSaveAndContinueEditJs($this->getSaveAndContinueUrl()),
+                            'class' => 'save continue',
                         ]),
                 );
             }
@@ -98,21 +98,32 @@ protected function _prepareLayout()
                     'delete_button',
                     $this->getLayout()->createBlock('adminhtml/widget_button')
                         ->setData([
-                            'label'     => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Delete'),
-                            'onclick'   => Mage::helper('core/js')->getConfirmSetLocationJs($this->getDeleteUrl()),
-                            'class'     => 'delete',
+                            'label' => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Delete'),
+                            'onclick' => Mage::helper('core/js')->getConfirmSetLocationJs($this->getDeleteUrl()),
+                            'class' => 'delete',
                         ]),
                 );
             }
 
             if ($this->getProduct()->isDuplicable()) {
+                if ($this->getProduct()->getMediaGalleryImages()->count() === 0) {
+                    $onClickAction = Mage::helper('core/js')->getSetLocationJs($this->getDuplicateUrl(true));
+                } else {
+                    $skipImgOnDuplicate = $this->helper('catalog/image')->skipProductImageOnDuplicate();
+                    $onClickAction = "openDuplicateDialog('" . $this->getDuplicateUrl(false) . "','" . $this->getDuplicateUrl(true) . "'); return false;";
+
+                    if ($skipImgOnDuplicate !== -1) {
+                        $onClickAction = Mage::helper('core/js')->getSetLocationJs($this->getDuplicateUrl((bool) $skipImgOnDuplicate));
+                    }
+                }
+
                 $this->setChild(
                     'duplicate_button',
                     $this->getLayout()->createBlock('adminhtml/widget_button')
                         ->setData([
-                            'label'     => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Duplicate'),
-                            'onclick'   => Mage::helper('core/js')->getSetLocationJs($this->getDuplicateUrl()),
-                            'class'     => 'add duplicate',
+                            'label' => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Duplicate'),
+                            'onclick' => $onClickAction,
+                            'class' => 'add duplicate',
                         ]),
                 );
             }
@@ -191,9 +202,9 @@ public function getSaveUrl()
     public function getSaveAndContinueUrl()
     {
         return $this->getUrl('*/*/save', [
-            '_current'   => true,
-            'back'       => 'edit',
-            'tab'        => '{{tab_id}}',
+            '_current' => true,
+            'back' => 'edit',
+            'tab' => '{{tab_id}}',
             'active_tab' => null,
         ]);
     }
@@ -229,9 +240,9 @@ public function getDeleteUrl()
     /**
      * @return string
      */
-    public function getDuplicateUrl()
+    public function getDuplicateUrl($skipImages = false)
     {
-        return $this->getUrl('*/*/duplicate', ['_current' => true]);
+        return $this->getUrl('*/*/duplicate', ['_current' => true, 'skipImages' => $skipImages ? 1 : 0]);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/Model/System/Config/Source/Catalog/ImageDuplicate.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/Model/System/Config/Source/Catalog/ImageDuplicate.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..91c33cb006b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/Model/System/Config/Source/Catalog/ImageDuplicate.php
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+<?php
+
+class Mage_Adminhtml_Model_System_Config_Source_Catalog_ImageDuplicate {
+
+
+    public function toOptionArray()
+    {
+        return [
+            ['value' => -1, 'label' => Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('Always ask')],
+            ['value' => 0, 'label' => Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('Copy images to the new product')],
+            ['value' => 1, 'label' => Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('Duplicate product without images')],
+        ];
+    }
+}
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/controllers/Catalog/ProductController.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/controllers/Catalog/ProductController.php
index e3dd932327a..8adf4cd848e 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/controllers/Catalog/ProductController.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/controllers/Catalog/ProductController.php
@@ -822,6 +822,12 @@ public function duplicateAction()
     {
         $product = $this->_initProduct();
         try {
+            $imgHelper = Mage::helper('catalog/image');
+
+            if($imgHelper->skipProductImageOnDuplicate() === -1){
+                $product->setSkipImagesOnDuplicate((bool) $this->getRequest()->getParam('skipImages',true));
+            }
+
             $newProduct = $product->duplicate();
             $this->_getSession()->addSuccess($this->__('The product has been duplicated.'));
             $this->_redirect('*/*/edit', ['_current' => true, 'id' => $newProduct->getId()]);
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Helper/Image.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Helper/Image.php
index 25647ebfacd..8acf18ce264 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Helper/Image.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Helper/Image.php
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ class Mage_Catalog_Helper_Image extends Mage_Core_Helper_Abstract
 
     public const XML_NODE_PRODUCT_MAX_DIMENSION = 'catalog/product_image/max_dimension';
 
+    public const XML_NODE_SKIP_IMAGE_ON_DUPLICATE_ACTION = 'catalog/product_image/images_on_duplicate_action';
+
     protected $_moduleName = 'Mage_Catalog';
 
     /**
@@ -650,4 +652,12 @@ public function validateUploadFile($filePath)
 
         return $mimeType !== null;
     }
+
+    /**
+     * @return int
+     */
+    public function skipProductImageOnDuplicate()
+    {
+        return Mage::getStoreConfigAsInt(self::XML_NODE_SKIP_IMAGE_ON_DUPLICATE_ACTION);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Product.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Product.php
index 6c7b0497575..d6e196dfbcf 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Product.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Product.php
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@
  * @method bool getIsChangedWebsites()
  * @method bool getIsCustomOptionChanged()
  * @method bool getIsDefault()
+ * @method bool getSkipImagesOnDuplicate()
+ * @method $this setSkipImagesOnDuplicate(bool $value)
  * @method bool getIsDuplicate()
  * @method bool getIsMassupdate()
  * @method bool getIsRecurring()
@@ -1365,6 +1367,12 @@ public function duplicate()
             ->setId(null)
             ->setStoreId(Mage::app()->getStore()->getId());
 
+        if($newProduct->getSkipImagesOnDuplicate() == null && $this->_getImageHelper()->skipProductImageOnDuplicate() === -1){
+            $newProduct->setSkipImagesOnDuplicate(false);
+        }else{
+            $newProduct->setSkipImagesOnDuplicate((bool) $this->_getImageHelper()->skipProductImageOnDuplicate());
+        }
+
         Mage::dispatchEvent(
             'catalog_model_product_duplicate',
             ['current_product' => $this, 'new_product' => $newProduct],
@@ -1437,7 +1445,9 @@ public function duplicate()
         $newProduct->save();
 
         $this->getOptionInstance()->duplicate($this->getId(), $newProduct->getId());
-        $this->getResource()->duplicate($this->getId(), $newProduct->getId());
+        $this->getResource()
+            ->setSkipImagesOnDuplicate($newProduct->getSkipImagesOnDuplicate())
+            ->duplicate($this->getId(), $newProduct->getId());
 
         // TODO - duplicate product on all stores of the websites it is associated with
         /*if ($storeIds = $this->getWebsiteIds()) {
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Product/Attribute/Backend/Media.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Product/Attribute/Backend/Media.php
index db2832c7987..9541d5e9d40 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Product/Attribute/Backend/Media.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Product/Attribute/Backend/Media.php
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ public function beforeSave($object)
             $value['images'] = Mage::helper('core')->jsonDecode($value['images']);
         }
 
-        if (!isset($value['values'])) {
+        if (!isset($value['values']) || $object->getSkipImagesOnDuplicate()) {
             $value['values'] = [];
         }
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ public function beforeSave($object)
             $value['values'] = Mage::helper('core')->jsonDecode($value['values']);
         }
 
-        if (!is_array($value['images'])) {
+        if (!is_array($value['images']) || $object->getSkipImagesOnDuplicate()) {
             $value['images'] = [];
         }
 
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ public function duplicate($object)
         $attrCode = $this->getAttribute()->getAttributeCode();
         $mediaGalleryData = $object->getData($attrCode);
 
-        if (!isset($mediaGalleryData['images']) || !is_array($mediaGalleryData['images'])) {
+        if (!isset($mediaGalleryData['images']) || !is_array($mediaGalleryData['images']) || $object->getSkipImagesOnDuplicate()) {
             return $this;
         }
 
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Resource/Product.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Resource/Product.php
index 582c8eab636..ea4dd162eb0 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Resource/Product.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Resource/Product.php
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ class Mage_Catalog_Model_Resource_Product extends Mage_Catalog_Model_Resource_Ab
      */
     protected $_productCategoryTable;
 
+    /**
+     * Used when duplicating product
+     *
+     * @var string
+     */
+    protected $_skipImagesOnDuplicate = false;
+
     /**
      * Initialize resource
      */
@@ -565,9 +572,22 @@ public function duplicate($oldId, $newId)
     {
         $adapter = $this->_getWriteAdapter();
         $eavTables = ['datetime', 'decimal', 'int', 'text', 'varchar'];
-
+        $mediaImageAttributeSkipIds = [];
         $adapter = $this->_getWriteAdapter();
 
+        if($this->getSkipImagesOnDuplicate()){
+
+            /**
+             * @var int $attributeId
+             * @var Mage_Eav_Model_Entity_Attribute_Abstract $attribute
+             */
+            foreach($this->getAttributesById() as $attributeId => $attribute){
+                if($attribute->getFrontendInput() == 'media_image'){
+                    $mediaImageAttributeSkipIds[$attribute->getBackendType()][] = $attributeId;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         // duplicate EAV store values
         foreach ($eavTables as $suffix) {
             $tableName = $this->getTable(['catalog/product', $suffix]);
@@ -583,6 +603,10 @@ public function duplicate($oldId, $newId)
                 ->where('entity_id = ?', $oldId)
                 ->where('store_id > ?', 0);
 
+            if(isset($mediaImageAttributeSkipIds[$suffix])){
+                $select->where('attribute_id NOT IN (?)', $mediaImageAttributeSkipIds[$suffix]);
+            }
+
             $adapter->query($adapter->insertFromSelect(
                 $select,
                 $tableName,
@@ -719,4 +743,22 @@ public function getCategoryIdsWithAnchors($object)
 
         return $this->_getReadAdapter()->fetchCol($select);
     }
+
+    /**
+     * @param bool $newProductSkipImages
+     * @return $this
+     */
+    public function setSkipImagesOnDuplicate(bool $newProductSkipImages){
+        $this->_skipImagesOnDuplicate = $newProductSkipImages;
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return bool|string
+     */
+    public function getSkipImagesOnDuplicate(){
+        return $this->_skipImagesOnDuplicate;
+    }
+
+
 }
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/etc/config.xml b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/etc/config.xml
index 07adebaca45..a5a78270ebb 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/etc/config.xml
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/etc/config.xml
@@ -810,6 +810,7 @@
                 <base_width>1800</base_width>
                 <small_width>210</small_width>
                 <max_dimension>5000</max_dimension>
+                <images_on_duplicate_action>-1</images_on_duplicate_action>
             </product_image>
             <seo>
                 <product_url_suffix>.html</product_url_suffix>
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/etc/system.xml b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/etc/system.xml
index add69a01d34..ac143082692 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/etc/system.xml
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/etc/system.xml
@@ -203,6 +203,16 @@
                             <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
                             <validate>validate-digits validate-greater-than-zero</validate>
                         </progressive_threshold>
+                        <images_on_duplicate_action translate="label comment">
+                            <label>Skip Images on Duplicate</label>
+                            <comment>'Ask' option only affects Admin interface. Default for programmatical duplication is to persist images.</comment>
+                            <frontend_type>select</frontend_type>
+                            <source_model>adminhtml/system_config_source_catalog_imageDuplicate</source_model>
+                            <sort_order>50</sort_order>
+                            <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
+                            <show_in_website>1</show_in_website>
+                            <show_in_store>1</show_in_store>
+                        </images_on_duplicate_action>
                     </fields>
                 </product_image>
                 <placeholder translate="label">
diff --git a/app/design/adminhtml/default/default/template/catalog/product/edit.phtml b/app/design/adminhtml/default/default/template/catalog/product/edit.phtml
index 5fb4f6e9490..30a4faf538a 100644
--- a/app/design/adminhtml/default/default/template/catalog/product/edit.phtml
+++ b/app/design/adminhtml/default/default/template/catalog/product/edit.phtml
@@ -92,6 +92,38 @@
         return 1;
     }
 
+    function openDuplicateDialog(keepImagesUrl,skipImagesUrl) {
+        var html = '<p><small><?php echo $this->__('You can disable this message on'); ?>:<br/> <i><?php echo $this->__('System'); ?> > <?php echo $this->__('Configuration'); ?> > <?php echo $this->__('Catalog Images'); ?> > <?php echo $this->__('Product Image'); ?></i></small></p><br/>';
+
+        function duplicateKeepImages(dialogWindow) {
+            dialogWindow.close();
+            setLocation(keepImagesUrl);
+        }
+        function duplicateSkipImages(dialogWindow) {
+            dialogWindow.close();
+            setLocation(skipImagesUrl);
+        }
+
+        Dialog.confirm(html, {
+            width: 450,
+            height: 120,
+            draggable:true,
+            closable:true,
+            className:"magento",
+            windowClassName:"popup-window",
+            title:'<?php echo $this->__('Copy the images onto the new product?') ?>',
+            recenterAuto:false,
+            hideEffect:Element.hide,
+            showEffect:Element.show,
+            id:"duplicate-product",
+            buttonClass:"form-button",
+            okLabel:"<?php echo $this->__('Yes'); ?>",
+            ok: duplicateKeepImages.bind(this),
+            cancelLabel: "<?php echo $this->__('Duplicate product without images'); ?>",
+            cancel: duplicateSkipImages.bind(this),
+        });
+    }
+
 Event.observe(window, 'load', function() {
     var objName = '<?php echo $this->getSelectedTabId() ?>';
     if (objName) {
diff --git a/app/locale/en_US/Mage_Adminhtml.csv b/app/locale/en_US/Mage_Adminhtml.csv
index 0262cbb17b8..022a6b0aa5f 100644
--- a/app/locale/en_US/Mage_Adminhtml.csv
+++ b/app/locale/en_US/Mage_Adminhtml.csv
@@ -1312,3 +1312,10 @@
 "{{base_url}} is not recommended to use in a production environment to declare the Base Unsecure URL / Base Secure URL. It is highly recommended to change this value in your Magento <a href=""%s"">configuration</a>.","{{base_url}} is not recommended to use in a production environment to declare the Base Unsecure URL / Base Secure URL. It is highly recommended to change this value in your Magento <a href=""%s"">configuration</a>."
 "Powered by OpenMage","Powered by OpenMage"
 "At least one currency has to be allowed.","At least one currency has to be allowed."
+"You can disable this message on","You can disable this message on"
+"Copy the images onto the new product?","Copy the images onto the new product?"
+"Copy images to the new product","Copy images to the new product"
+"Always ask","Always ask"
+"Duplicate product without images","Duplicate product without images"
+"Skip Images on Duplicate","Skip Images on Duplicate"
+"'Ask' option only affects Admin interface. Default for programmatical duplication is to persist images.","'Ask' option only affects Admin interface. Default for programmatical duplication is to persist images."