Works that need attention
Copyright touches far more businesses than publishers and studios. Software and source code, technical manuals, product photography, packaging artwork, websites, databases, training material and marketing content are all creative works with commercial value.
In Iran, as elsewhere, the questions that decide whether these works can be protected and enforced are practical ones: who created the work, under what contract, whether the work has been recorded where recording is available, and what evidence exists of its creation and first publication.
Ownership and authorship
Disputes over copyright often turn on ownership rather than copying. Works created by employees, freelancers, agencies and joint-venture partners can belong to different parties depending on the agreements in place. We review and draft the contracts that settle ownership and moral-rights questions before a dispute arises.
For works created abroad and used in Iran, the position of foreign authors raises specific questions. We analyse each case individually rather than relying on general assumptions.
Who we act for
We advise software developers and technology companies, publishers and educational providers, design studios and advertising agencies, broadcasters and content platforms, and businesses whose marketing material, catalogues and product images are copied by competitors or resellers.
Our clients include both international rights holders whose works are used in Iran and Iranian creators who want to license their work to partners at home or abroad. In each case the aim is the same: a clear record of who owns the work, contracts that define how it may be used, and a realistic plan for acting when those terms are broken.
Registration, evidence and records
Where a registration or recording route is available for a category of work, we advise on whether it is worthwhile and handle the formalities. Where it is not, we help you build a reliable evidential record of authorship and dates, which is often decisive in practice.
Licensing and enforcement
We prepare licences that define exactly how your works may be used in Iran: the media, the territory, the term and the payment. When works are copied or used without permission, we assess the evidence, advise on the realistic options and pursue the route that best fits your objectives, from a formal demand to proceedings.
Practical steps you can take now
Even before any formal step, a few simple habits improve your position considerably: keep signed agreements with every creator, store dated versions of important works, mark published material with a copyright notice and the year of first publication, and keep records of where and when the work was first made available. We can review your current practice and suggest a routine that fits your organisation.
Common questions
Is copyright in Iran automatic, or must it be registered?
The answer can depend on the type of work and on the rights you want to enforce. We explain the position for your specific works and whether any registration or recording is advisable.
Can a foreign company protect its software in Iran?
Foreign rights holders face particular questions in Iran. We review the work, its origin and how it is distributed, and recommend the most effective combination of contracts, technical measures and legal steps.
What evidence should we keep to prove authorship?
Dated drafts, source repositories, contracts with creators and records of first publication are all useful. We help you set up a simple routine for keeping them.