Working Group to Help Protect Publishing Rights

To protect publishing rights and prevent illegal copying, printing and distribution of books, a working group has been be convened in cooperation with Tehran Publishers and Booksellers Association (TPBA) and the Department of Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

“The working group for ‘Protection of Publishing Rights’ has been tasked with the mission to take action against the infringement of intellectual property rights of publishers in the book market,” ILNA quoted Mohammad Selgi, the director general of the ministry’s Office for Promotion of Book and Reading, as saying.

The infringement of publishing rights may be in many forms, but is mainly seen as illegal production and distribution of books either in the printed medium or in electronic versions. "This will be the focus of the working group," Selgi said.

The secretariat of the working group is based at the TPBA located at No. 1, Sharif Alley, Isfahani Street, Enqelab Avenue. TPBA, a non-governmental professional organization will be responsible for the executive affairs of the working group.

The working group will use all possible legal means to prevent illegal distribution of books in the form of print, e-books, audio-books, multimedia and online publications, Selgi stressed.

The group's efforts are aimed to bring about a safe working environment for publishers and authors and help the book industry thrive. The group will promote a culture that would encourage professionalism and good practices and principles in the publication industry, while discouraging the long-established practice of illegal publications without copyright or patent.

  Guilds Should Cooperate

All publishers and authors can pursue their complaints at the secretariat of the working group by submitting their documents. "The group will peruse and take up the cases in accordance with the law, and ensure that the aggrieved publishers are duly compensated," Selgi said.

The relevant guilds and associations are required to cooperate with the working group in dealing with unauthorized bookstores and booksellers. The bookstores that do not comply with rules and regulations will be dealt with legally.

Selgi also said all provincial offices of the ministry must attend to the grievances of publishers and authors who have suffered losses due to illegal reproduction and distribution of books.

He urged the provincial offices to identify cases of infringements and file complaints to counter the violators.

In case their problems still remain unsolved, publishers and authors are free to send their complaints to the Office for Promotion of Book and Reading, so that the secretariat of the working group can further pursue the matter.

"In recent months, after a series of investigations, the verdicts for some illegal book publishers in Tehran and provinces have been issued and will soon be made public."

Selgi hoped the working group would achieve effective results in pursuing future complaints in the publishing industry.