shutterstock-186837098-web
Borna_Mirahmadian / Shutterstock.com
4 November 2014Copyright

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.

Already registered?

Login to your account

To request a FREE 2-week trial subscription, please signup.
NOTE - this can take up to 48hrs to be approved.

Two Weeks Free Trial

For multi-user price options, or to check if your company has an existing subscription that we can add you to for FREE, please email Adrian Tapping at atapping@newtonmedia.co.uk