Key Factors Influencing Iran’s Accession to International Copyright Treaties: A Delphi Study

Pashootan, Negin; Matlabi, Dariush; Hariri, Nadjla; Babalhavaeji, Fahimeh; Zarkalam, Sattar

doi:10.22054/dcm.2025.88907.1285

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Information and Knowledge Management, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

² Associate Professor, Faculty of Humanities, Yadegar-e-Imam Khomeini (RAH) Shar-e Rey Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

³ Professor, Faculty of Humanities, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Associate Professor, Faculty of Humanities, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

⁵ Associate Professor, Faculty of Humanities, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/dcm.2025.88907.1285

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aimed to identify and analyze the determinants underlying Iran’s accession to international copyright treaties.
Method: To achieve this objective, a combined exploratory and integrative methodology was utilized, integrating meta-synthesis (Sandelowski & Barroso’s model) using the Delphi technique. During the meta-synthesis phase, 51 studies were selected. Findings were obtained through open coding, organized into concepts, and arranged into thematic categories. A two-round Delphi process involving 23 experts—including publishers, copyright professionals, software and game developers, web developers, and artists—was conducted to validate the results. The data were analyzed using the mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation.
Findings: The meta-synthesis revealed 114 concepts, divided into 34 categories across four domains: economic, cultural, political, and legal. In the initial Delphi round, the majority of the categories were deemed to be highly significant, whereas “Religious issues”, “Shortcomings of the Berne Convention,” and “legal/structural challenges” garnered lower consensus. In the subsequent round, expert agreement increased, with “Preparation of legal infrastructure,” “Preparation of managerial infrastructure,” and “Establishment of collective management organizations” identified as the most crucial. The category “limitations of the Berne Convention” was omitted due to a mean score falling below 4.
Conclusion: In summary, 42 out of 43 categories (approximately 98%) attained mean scores of 4 or above, indicating a strong consensus among experts. The establishment of robust legal and managerial infrastructures was highlighted as the most essential factor. These findings provide both theoretical perspectives and practical recommendations for policymakers regarding the development and execution of effective copyright policies.

Keywords

References

Abbasi, M., Islam, M. M., & Akrami, F. (2015). The position and challenges of Iran in international protection of literary and artistic property rights. Medical Law, 4, 11–46. http://ijmedicallaw.ir/article-1-556-fa.html (in Persian)

Allauddin, H., Iqbal, A., & Faisal Shahzad, F. (2025). Re-assessment of Copyright Protection under the Berne Convention (1886): The Juridical Status and Challenges of Emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) Generated Works. International Journal of Social Sciences Bulletin. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15378989

Aloun, D. M. (2024). An analysis of international legal protection of copyright. International Journal of Space Law and Policy (IJSLP), 2(1), 12–26. APIS – 3920 – 0014 & ISSN – 2584-1955. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.25466.09923

Amouzegar, M. (2004). Legal implications of Iran's membership in the World Trade Organization. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Tehran. (in Persian).

Ani, M. (2019). Legal analysis of privileges stipulated in the appendix to the Berne Convention for developing countries. [Unpublished master's thesis]. University of Tehran. (In Persian)

Aoki, Z. B. (1990). Will the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China Follow the United States' Adherence to the Berne Convention. BC Int'l & Comp. L. Rev., 13, 207.

Ayoubi, L. (2018). The copyright law of Iran: An overview of recent developments. In Lida Ayoubi” The Copyright Law of Iran: An Overview of Recent Developments” (2017) WIPO-WTO Colloquium Papers (Vol. 11).

Bannerman, S. (2011). Canadian copyright: History, change, and potential. Canadian Journal of Communication.‏ https://doi.org/10.22230/cjc.2011v36n1a2321

Bozorgi, V., Fathizadeh, A. H., Zahedtaleban, A., & Vaziri, M. H. (2015). World Trade Organization and Iran's cultural products. Research Institute of Culture, Art, and Communication. (in Persian)

Brown, R. S. (1987). Adherence to the Berne Copyright Convention: The Moral Rights Issue. J. Copyright Soc'y USA, 35, 196.

Cipta, H. (2016). Konvensi Bern dan perlindungan hak cipta. Jurnal Surya Kencana Dua: Dinamika Masalah Hukum dan Keadilan, 6(1).‏

Deepanshi, J. I. M. S., & Marwah, K. (2021). Influence of Berne Convention on Copyright Laws In India. Indian Journal of Law and Legal Research, 2(1), 170-175.

Divanov, S. (2024). International cooperation in the field of intellectual property protection: problems & prospects. World Scientist, 1(20), 534-539. https://doi.org/10.51582/interconf.19-20.05.2024.003

Fankhanel, L. (2014). The effects of the Berne Convention on translations in the Netherlands. Rev. Econ. Rsch. on Copyright Issues, 11, 1.

Fasih Ramandi, M. (2017). The Berne Convention, countries' membership, and the status of Iran in the current situation. Research Institute for Culture, Art, and Communication. (in Persian)

Gana, R. L. (2017). Has creativity died in the Third World? Some consequences of the internationalization of intellectual property. In Globalization and Intellectual Property (pp. 433-468). Routledge.

Ghafarian Kablu, M., Pashazadeh, H., Rahbar Farshpeira, N., & Masoudi, N. (2022). International intellectual property requirements in the global community and their function in Iranian and U.S. law. International Studies Quarterly, 19(3), 271-286 https://doi.org/10.22034/isj.2023.366504.1919 . (In Persian)

Ghessaa, M. (2004). The necessity and implications of accepting the copyright agreement. Book Monthly (Children and Adolescents), 86, 93–101. (In Persian)

Gupta, A. (2019). Critically Discuss the Continued Relevance of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886).

Haghaninejad, G. (2009). Comparison of the international obligations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) with Iranian law in the field of copyright. Unpublished Master's thesis, Payame Noor University of Tehran. (in Persian)

Hazrati, S. (1999). The moral rights of authors in Iranian and Islamic law and international conventions. Unpublished Master's thesis, Imam Sadiq University. (in Persian)

Hekmatnia, M., et al. (2021). The Berne Convention: Dimensions, consequences, and impacts of Iran's accession. Research Institute for Culture, Art, and Communication. (in Persian)

Hosseini, S. S. (2010). A study on the views of publishers in Tehran regarding the status of copyright in Iran and the implications of Iran's accession to the international copyright system. [Unpublished master's thesis]. Islamic Azad University. (in Persian)

Hosseini, S. S., & Matlabi, D. (2013). Examining the consequences of Iran's accession to the international copyright system from the perspective of Tehran publishers. Information Research and Public Libraries (Payam-e Ketabkhaneh), 18(2 (Issue 69)), 287–312. doi:20.1001.1.26455730.1391.18.2.6.1 (in Persian)

Husnain, M. (2025). Copyright ability of outputs: A comparative study of EU and US approaches [Master’s thesis, Vilnius University]. Vilnius University Faculty of Law.

Jafar Zadeh, M., & Ashna, H. D. (2023). Explaining the perspective on the acceptance of the “Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works” from the viewpoint of cultural security for the Islamic Republic of Iran. Strategic Studies Quarterly, (3), 67-89. (In Persian) https://doi.org/10.22034/srq.2023.399677.4062

Karimi, S. (2023). Examining the reasons for Iran's non-accession to the Berne Convention (from the perspective of literary and artistic rights). Legal Civilization, 6(16), 101–114. (In Persian)

Kermani Nejadbadi, M. (1997). Examination of the moral rights of authors in Iranian law and international conventions. Unpublished Master's thesis, Islamic Azad University. (in Persian)

Kurt, K. (2021). Berne Convention and Turkey’s participation process. Journal of Atatürk Research Center, 104, 1-42.

Leaffer, M. (1990). International Copyright from an American Perspective. Ark. L. Rev., 43, 373.

Manghutay, A. G. (2012). The Berne Convention and the Iranian Law: Negative consequences of the Differences in the Scope of Application. NISCAIR-CSIR, 17(6). 559-567. http://nopr.niscpr.res.in/handle/123456789/15024

Matlabi, D. (2024). Accession to international copyright conventions in developing countries: Lessons from Iran. Islamic Azad University, Yadegar-e-Imam Branch. (Research Project). (in Persian)

Matlabi, D. (2025). Navigating the Copyright Landscape: Iran's Journey towards Global Integration. International Journal of Information Science and Management (IJISM), 23(3), 23-38. doi: 10.22034/ijism.2025.2041729.1598

Matlabi, D., & Hosseini, S. S. (2013). Views of publishers in Tehran on copyright in Iran. National Studies in Library and Information Organization, 24(2), 42–56. (in Persian)

Mirkarimi, P., Mirabbasi, S. B., & Moradi, M. (2023). Explaining the dimensions and components of the status of intellectual property rights in the public international law system. Interdisciplinary Jurisprudence Studies Quarterly, 3(2), 1-18. (in Persian) https://mrfeghh.ctb.iau.ir/article_696710.html

Mohammadzadeh Vadeghani, A., & Ani, M. (2019). Advantages and legal effects of Iran's accession to the Berne Convention and its annex adopted in Paris, 1971. Research and Development in Comparative Law, 2(2), 364–388. (in Persian) https://jcl.illrc.ac.ir/article_239548.html

Mohseni, H. (2023). Global treaties related to intellectual property rights and knowledge-based development in Iran. Agricultural Information Science and Technology, 6(1), 51–63. [In Persian]. https://doi.org/10.22092/jaist.2023.362959.1096

Mo'in Islam, M. (2018). Examination of the factors and legal challenges of the universality of the intellectual property rights system. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of Tehran. (in Persian)

Musai, M. (2006). Economic impacts of Iran's accession to the World Trade Organization in the field of literary and artistic property. Commercial Publishing and Printing Company. (in Persian)

Musai, M. (2011). Accession to the WTO, Observation of Copyright and the Iranian Book Market. The Economic Research, 11(2), 111-123.

Norouzi, A. (2001). A study of the advantages and disadvantages of Iran's accession to the international copyright system from the perspective of library and information science experts. [Unpublished Master's thesis]. University of Tehran. (in Persian)

Olian Jr, I. A. (1973). International copyright and the needs of developing countries: the awakening at Stockholmn and Paris. Cornell Int'l LJ, 7, 81.

Pashootan, N., Matlabi, D., Hariri, N., Zarkalam, S., & Bab-al-Havaji, F. (2025). Consequences of Iran’s accession to international copyright treaties: A systematic review. Journal of Danesh-Pajouhi Studies, (), -(In Persian)

Rezvanpanah-Pashteh, M., & Ansari, A. (2022). Literary and artistic property in the Comprehensive Bill on the Protection of Literary and Artistic Property Rights and the Berne Convention. 10th International Conference on Legal and Judicial Studies. (in Persian)

Ross, D. (1990). The United States joins the Berne Convention: New obligations for authors' moral rights. NCL Rev., 68, 363.

Sadeghi, H., & Akbari, M. (2014). Advantages and disadvantages of Iran's accession to the Berne Convention. In Proceedings of the National Conference on Iran and International Legal Challenges, Maragheh (pp. 165–176). (in Persian)

Sadeghi Moghadam, H. (1988). Copyright and international conventions. Unpublished Master's thesis, Tarbiat Modares University. (in Persian)

Safavian, G. R. (2014). Copyright from the perspective of international law and Iranian law. Unpublished Master's thesis, Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani Non-Governmental Higher Education Institute. (in Persian)

Saleh, F. (2003/1382). Intellectual property in Iran and an analysis of the consequences of Iran’s accession to the international copyright convention. Office of Cultural Studies, Islamic Consultative Assembly. (In Persian).

Sandelowski, M., & Barroso, J. (2006). Handbook for synthesizing qualitative research. springer publishing company. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2009.2820

Seif-Asgari Barkosarayi, S. (2018). Economic impacts of Iran's accession to the Berne Convention on music consumption. [Unpublished Master's thesis]. Isfahan University of Art. (in Persian)

Seyed Ali Roteh, S. S. (2008). Intellectual property rights and their economic impacts on Iran's accession to the World Trade Organization. Unpublished Master's thesis, University of Tehran. (in Persian)

Sgambati, S. L. (1992). China's Accession to the Berne Convention: Bandaging the Wounds of Intellectual Property Piracy in China. Fordham Ent. Media & Intell. Prop. LF, 3, 139. https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/iplj/vol3/iss1/10/

Shokri, S. (2018). Requirements for Iran's accession to the Berne International Convention. In Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Jurisprudence and Law, Advocacy, and Social Sciences (pp. 1–13). (in Persian)

Soleimani, H., & Seyed Abadi, A. A. (2017). The consequences of the Islamic Republic of Iran's accession to the World Trade Organization in the field of books. Book House. (in Persian)

Sundara Rajan, M. T. (1999). Developing countries and the international copyright regime: the neglected issue of cultural survival (Doctoral dissertation, University of British Columbia). https://doi.org/ 10.14288/1.0077448

Swenson, B. (1992). Intellectual Property Protection through the Berne Convention: A Matter of Economic Survival for the Post-Soviet New Commonwealth of Independent States. Denv. J. Int'l L. & Pol'y, 21, 77.

Talebnejad, S. (2014). Legal impacts of Iran's accession to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. Unpublished Master's thesis, Tarbiat Modares University. (in Persian)

Tatarinova, L., & Yessen, Z. (2024). Protection of intellectual rights in the international context: problems and prospects. Scientific Collection «InterConf+», (45(201), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.51582/interconf.19-20.05.2024.003

Tavasoli Naeini, M., & Jafari, S. (2009). The 1886 Berne Convention (Protection of Literary and Artistic Works) and the benefits of Iran's accession to it. Islamic Jurisprudence and Legal Studies (Fiqh and Islamic Legal Foundations), 5(17), 11-38. (in Persian)

Ubanyionwu, C. J. (2024). The international legal framework for protection of intellectual property rights in Nigeria. Awka Capital Bar Journal (ACBJ), 3(2).

Udoh, G. P. (2020). The Protection of Literary Works under Article 2 of the Berne Convention and its Acceptability in EU Countries. Available at SSRN 3562239.

WIPO. (2025, September 1). WIPO-administered treaties: Contracting parties of the Berne Convention. World Intellectual Property Organization. https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/ShowResults?search_what=C&treaty_id=15

Yusuf, P. K. H., & Kansil, C. S. T. (2024). Moral rights protection of music creators’ reputation under the Berne Convention 1886. Journal of Law, Politic and Humanities, 5(2), 803–810. https://doi.org/10.38035/jlph.v5i2.1064

Zamani, A. (2015). Comparative study of intellectual property protection in Iranian law and the WIPO Convention . [Unpublished master's thesis]. (in Persian)

Zhu, L. (2021). A Comparative Study of Copyright Protection in China and the US, In the Context of US-China Trade Disputes.Deepanshi, J. I. M. S., & Marwah, K. (2021). Influence of Berne Convention On Copyright Laws In India. Indian Journal of Law and Legal Research, 2(1), 170-175.