diff --git a/copy b/copy
index 632df966486..dcb339d2746 100755
--- a/copy
+++ b/copy
@@ -22,11 +22,6 @@ import sys
 import os
 import shlex
 
-try:
-    import json
-except ImportError:
-    import simplejson as json
-
 # ===========================================
 # convert arguments of form a=b c=d
 # to a dictionary
@@ -51,10 +46,7 @@ dest = params['dest']
  
 # raise an error if there is no src file
 if not os.path.exists(src):
-    print json.dumps({
-        "failed" : 1,
-        "msg"    : "Source %s failed to transfer" % src
-    })
+    print "failed=1 msg='Source %s failed to transfer'" % src
     sys.exit(1)
 
 md5sum = None
@@ -70,9 +62,6 @@ if md5sum != md5sum2:
     changed = True
 
 # mission accomplished
-print json.dumps({
-   "md5sum"   : md5sum2,
-   "changed"  : changed 
-})
+print "md5sum=%s changed=%s" % (md5sum2, changed)