TEHRAN – Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Reza Salehi-Amiri has urged the Iranian parliament to act promptly to approve the new copyright bill that was submitted last May.

“We have encountered plagiarism and difficulties in the cultural field,” said Salehi-Amiri during the 7th National Conference on Copyright, which was held at the National Library and Archives of Iran on Tuesday.

“The approval of the copyright bill would make those people active in cultural field feel safer,” he added.

Salehi-Amiri noted that Iran would make a major breakthrough in the export of cultural productions.

Articles 245 to 248 in Iran’s criminal law passed in 1931 contains allusions to copyright. However, Iran’s first copyright law was passed in 1969.

Earlier last May, the new copyright bill was submitted to the parliament.

Salehi-Amiri also said that cultural diplomacy should be taken into consideration in Iran’s relationship with the world.

“The language of the modern world is the language of moderation and dialogue,” he added.

Photo: Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Reza Salehi-Amiri speaks during the 7th National Conference on Copyright at the National Library and Archives of Iran on May 23, 2017. (Mehr/Majid Haqdoost)

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