The overall objective of the IRSIP is to strengthen the Iranian intellectual property system to improve business competitiveness and commercialization of intellectual property assets, and to make a positive impact on Iran’s economic development.
The integration of Iran into the international system of intellectual property rights (IPRs) is currently at an intermediate level, since the country is not yet a member of some of the most important agreements, such as the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) and the Bern Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.
Even though Iran’s legal framework and institutions for IPRs are already established, many challenges remain. As in many other emerging economies, institutional constraints continue to impede the effective enforcement of IPRs. Furthermore, the holders of IPRs have not yet fully exploited the potential of these rights. Both are partly the result of limited public awareness of IPRs. Promoting the use of those types of IPRs that allow Iran to capitalise on its internal strengths, such as geographical indications (GIs) or its creative industry, is of particular interest to the Government of Iran.
The IRSIP was initiated at the request of the Iranian Government to the Swiss Confederation, in order to enable Iran to capitalise on its internal strengths, for example in the field of GIs. The IRSIP was, therefore, planned according to the expressed needs of the Iranian IP authorities in order to strengthen Iran’s intellectual property system.
Independent consultant
