PATENTS

Patents in Iran are valid for periods ranging from 5 to a maximum of 20 years. The period is determined at the option of the inventor. Fees are levied annually for the duration of the patent. Patent applications are examined only for correctness of documents and compliance with patentability specifications. A rejection of a patent application is appealable in Iranian court. As a signatory to the Paris Union, should a national of another signatory country file an application in his home country and then within 12 months file a similar application in Iran, the filing date shall be deemed retroactively as the same as the date of the original application.

TRADEMARKS

Trademarks registrations are effective for 10 years following the date of filing and are renewable thereafter. The statute of limitations for contesting a trademark is three years. Like a patent, should an application for registration of a trademark be rejected the matter may be appealed in the Court.

COPYRIGHT

There is no regulation in Iran covering copyright per se. However, Articles 23 through 31 of the Law for the Protection of the Rights of Authors, Composers and Artists may be invoked in favor of an author if it has been determined that his/her work has been published without his/her permission. Under the said Law, owners of intellectual works are also entitled for protection.