The Copyright Law of Iran: An Overview of Recent Developments

Abstract

This article evaluates recent developments in the copyright law of Iran. The focus of the article is the Copyright Bill drafted in 2010 and currently under consideration by the Iranian Parliament. The purpose of the Copyright Bill is mainly to reform the copyright law, provide better protection of the interests of rightholders, and enable Iran to join the Berne Convention and other international copyright agreements in the future. The article first provides a brief background to the existing laws and the history of the Copyright Bill. The text of the Copyright Bill is then analysed in relation to the current copyright law of Iran and the Bill’s compatibility with international copyright standards. This article argues that the Copyright Bill is overall a positive initiative that will bring the law in Iran up to date and more in line with the normative framework of the international copyright law. Therefore, if the Bill is enacted after further evaluation and optimisation, it will not only better safeguard the interests of rightholders and users in Iran but also facilitate cooperation, mutual protection, and provision of access between Iran and other countries.