--- content_copy.module	2009-11-17 21:18:56.000000000 +1300
+++ content_copy.module.new	2009-11-17 21:18:42.000000000 +1300
@@ -464,8 +464,10 @@ function content_copy_import_form_submit
     $field['type_name'] = $type_name;
 
     if (!empty($field['field_name']) && isset($content_info['content types'][$type_name]['fields'][$field_name])) {
-      drupal_set_message(t('The imported field %field_label (%field_name) was not added to %type because that field already exists in %type.', array(
-        '%field_label' => $field['label'], '%field_name' => $field_name, '%type' => $type_label)));
+      drupal_set_message(t('The imported field %field_label (%field_name) already exists in %type so was updated.', array(
+         '%field_label' => $field['label'], '%field_name' => $field_name, '%type' => $type_label)));
+      $field = content_field_instance_update($field, FALSE);
+      $rebuild = TRUE;
     }
     else {
       $field = content_field_instance_create($field, FALSE);