TEHRAN The director of the State Organization for Registering Title Deeds and Documents, Mohammad-Reza Alizadeh, said, "The plan for Iran joining the World Intellectual Property Organization was presented by the Judiciary to the cabinet who ratified it. It will soon be introduced in the Majlis."

On Tuesday, in the opening ceremony of a workshop on intellectual property rights which is being held for customs experts, Alizadeh stressed the importance of protecting the rights of inventors and innovators.

He added that the new technologies are the products of different people's ideas and innovations, and that if their intellectual property rights are not protected, their ideas will be stolen and copied, in which case no one will deem it wise to invest in them.

Elaborating on the activities of the organization, he said that the organization has presented the plan for Iran joining the Madrid Union on International Registration of Symbols.

Alizadeh added that Iran, as a cradle of civilization and disseminator of culture, possesses much traditional knowledge, in such fields as handicrafts, carpets and herbal remedies and medicines, which, due to a lack of relevant laws, is being expropriated.

He said that intellectual property rights should be protected and that Iran's economy should be diversified. He also expressed hope that the economy could be further developed and foreign investments in Iran increased if all national organizations cooperate in protecting intellectual property rights.

Also, Dr. Mohammad Abbas-Zadegan, the deputy director of the State Customs Office for Planning Affairs, said that the lack of laws protecting intellectual property rights is one of the main reasons for the brain drain.