During the 2nd conference on copyright and artistic, literary property law, Culture minister termed the present copyright law inefficient admitting that it cannot address legitimate juridical, intellectual and financial rights and demands of authors and artists.

IBNA: The 2nd Conference on Copyright and Intellectual Property Law was held at IRIB's international conference hall with the presence of vice-president Mohammadreza Rahimi, culture minister Seyyed Mohammad Husseini, justice minister Seyyed Morteza Bakhtiari and other juridical figures of the country. 

Drawing on the results of the first copyright conference held in spring 2011, Husseini said: "The conference evoked fundamental software/hardware measures made by culture ministry and Islamic Republic of Iran and solidarity of thinkers towards solving the problem." 

He continued: "Literary, artistic property law and relevant copyright laws include a wide range of writings, researches and artworks, as well as works of architecture, music, film, drama, photography, drawing, software, and databases. Moreover, intellectual property and related rights, that is the right of hosts, actors, singers, publishing industry, etc. Such a wide range shows the significance of this issue in world juridical systems." 

"Intellectual property is an obvious fact in the juridical system of Islamic republic of Iran. Besides its spiritual value, any research or work of art also possesses financial values like any other public or private property, and therefore entails protection with-in and with-out the countries' borderlines so that it can be implied to the service of national development along with its benefit for the owner and creator of the work." 

Yet according to Husseini, the present system of literary and artistic property rights and its law cannot address legitimate juridical, intellectual and financial rights and demands of authors and artists for three reasons. First, current laws and regulations of the country, including copyright law of 1970, cannot address today's needs, while in the last three decades scattered regulations were made in response to needs of the time. 

"But unfortunately, he added, the most obvious rights of creators and owners of literary, scientific and artistic works – especially in the field of radio-television and cinematic productions – were unabashedly plundered by foreigners and no one can now stop violation of the rights of Iranian producers outside the country. The big violation is rooted in the fact that despite membership in many international conventions, Islamic Republic of Iran has not yet joined any of the international copyright laws. The situation is not bearable any more as it would largely harm Iranian spiritual and scientific heritages. Experience has shown that lack of effective protection of copyright laws may even lead to more brain drains and disappointment of writers and creators." 

Husseini continued: "Following the statements of the Supreme Leader and by order of law, the government is obliged to officially request for membership in the World Trade Organization and the request is already submitted to the organization." 

Then referring to the first copyright conference held in 2010 and programs made to reach this goal, the culture minister expressed hope that by enacting the copyright law and membership in WTO, an effective step is taken towards realization of the fifth development program of Iran. 

According ot Husseini, holding technical and juridical workgroups and numerous sessions with eminent experts of the country, preparing the draft of copyright law, meeting with WIPO authorities based in Geneva, and taking steps towards realization of the treaty are some of the activities made after the first copyright conference in Iran.

Id : 135400