Consequent to
Iranian film
producers seeking legal advice
concerning film pirating, the
Office of the Leader of the
Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah
Seyyed Ali Khamene’i, and a
number of other religious
authorities labeled the action
as both illegal and
impermissible. The Fars News
Agency reported that the Office
of the Leader has given a
written response to the Iranian
Association of Film Producers (IAFP)
in which it was noted that “the
theft of artistic works and all
types of illegal practices in
this regard is impermissible”.
Opinion of
some other prominent ayatollahs
on the said issue were sought as
well. Ayatollah is a
high-ranking male Shiite
religious authority, generally
assuming a political role and
regarded as worthy of imitation.
Ayatollah
Nasser Makaram Shirazi noted two
points: first the practice of
not having the consent of the
original owners of the mentioned
items is prohibited and hence a
cause of liability. Second,
selling, buying and using of
such products which are copied
without the agreement of the
rightful owners is not
permitted.
Ayatollah
Nouri Hamedani defined the same
action in a religious order as
being prohibited while Ayatollah
Mousavi Ardebeli has written
that first it is wrong and
second, if it is known that
items are being produced without
due permission, selling and
buying of the item is equally
wrong.
Ayatollah
Yusef Sane’i said: According to
the principle of
non-authorization for possession
of assets of other persons,
unless under consent, the act is
illegal the ayatollah wrote.
The two
primary issues addressed in the
letter to the Office of the
Leader from the IAFP concerned
judgment of the action of
juridical and natural persons
that illicitly produce and
traffic in art works to the
general public and what is the
ruling from the point of
religion on the consumers of
such items. The IAFP noted that
it understood that most
consumers were not aware of the
legal implications of film
pirating but at the same time
the members are not willing to
sacrifice their rights to this
lack of information.
IAFP
spokesperson Seyyed Gholam Reza
Mousavi referred to the answers
given the association and said,
“The replies were very clear and
specific, as was expected. These
opinions from the religious and
legal point of view make it
transparent for buyers, sellers
and those combating such illegal
activities.”
He also
noted, “The answers given to the
questions from Iranian film
producers has the effect that
many private, government and
other centers and institutions
would stop showing films without
the permission of the owners.
Mousavi added, “We have observed
that in some cases films were
screened for the benefit of the
workers and their families in
certain organizations. In other
instances the video or VCD of
some pirated movies were being
trafficked both on the street
and in shops.”
Religious Authorities Ban Infringement
on Intellectual Property Rights