diff --git a/misc/rect.h b/misc/rect.h
--- a/misc/rect.h
+++ b/misc/rect.h
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@
    * this makes sure p is in the rect, extending it if necessary...
    */
   void setContains( const Coordinate &p );
+  /**
+   * Assignment operator.
+   */
+  Rect& operator=( const Rect& other );
   /**
    * moves the rect while keeping the size constant...
    */
diff --git a/misc/rect.cc b/misc/rect.cc
--- a/misc/rect.cc
+++ b/misc/rect.cc
@@ -18,6 +18,18 @@
 #include "rect.h"
 #include "common.h"
 
+Rect& Rect::operator=( const Rect& other )
+{
+  if (this != &other)
+  {
+    setBottomLeft( other.bottomLeft() );
+    setWidth( other.width() );
+    setHeight( other.height() );
+  }
+  normalize();
+  return *this;
+}
+
 bool operator==( const Rect& r, const Rect& s )
 {
   return ( r.bottomLeft() == s.bottomLeft()