Iran Joining the Berne Convention
Gist of the news
Tehrantimes.com reported more than two years ago on April 3, 2012 that:
A bill to join the Universal Copyright Convention has recently been completed by Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, an official of the ministry said on Tuesday. The bill has been submitted for discussion in the cabinet, the ministry’s Legal Department Director Ahmad-Ali Mohsenzadeh told the Persian service of the Iranian Students News Agency.
Almost two years later on April 15, 2014, the website of yjc.ir reported that according to Hasan Noushabadi, the Deputy Minister of Culture in Legal and Parliamentary Affairs:
“…Iran is preparing a bill to join the Bern convention as well as the Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations.”
A heated debate is underway between the proponents and opponents of joining the Berne Convention. This report summarizes and analyzes the main provisions of the Berne Convention because in the context of Iran becoming a member of the WTO, the issue of joining the Berne Convention remains a serious challenge for the copyright law and policy of Iran.