Policy Recommendations for Promoting Intellectual Property System in Iran

Intellectual property system (IPS) can be defined as the set of institutions and rules involved in the design, implementation, and enforcement of intellectual property in a national economy. Intellectual property system as a main subsystem of the national innovation system potentially is a powerful tool for innovation policies in every country with different developmental level. However, due to differences in the nature and function of the national innovation system in developing countries vs. developed countries, intellectual property system must be proportionate to the developmental level and innovation capacities in these countries. In this paper, after reviewing the history of the evolution of intellectual property system in Iran and describing its main components, SWOT method has been used to analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the current intellectual property system. Finally, policy suggestions for further conformity between the intellectual property system and the national innovation system in Iran are presented and discussed in detail.