Iran edges towards historic IP legislation
The government of Iran is moving towards the introduction of tough sanctions against IP infringement, including possible imprisonment, as part of new legislation, it has been claimed.
According to a report on the Payvand News website, Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani introduced a bill to the country’s parliament that includes protection of “artistic, industrial and scientific” IP.
Iran has previously hinted at introducing new laws to curb IP abuse.
If approved, the bill will be the first legislation in Iran surrounding the protection of IP.
Earlier this year, justice minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi announced during the Tehran Book Fair in May, that the administration was looking at ways of remedying violations.
Pourmohammadi said at the time that those found guilty could be punished with fines, a ban on social activities or imprisonment.
The country is not currently a signatory to the World Intellectual Property Organization-administered Berne Convention protecting copyright but is a member of the Madrid Protocol, which protects trademarks, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
Payvand also reported that around 50 prominent Iranian filmmakers had filed a complaint against satellite networks that had allegedly aired their films without permission.
Adel Moghaddas, the legal representative of the filmmakers, told the Iranian Labour News Agency that the complainants were seeking to focus attention on the need for copyright laws rather than collect damages.
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