Explore Iran, the best potential land for investment     - TRADEMARKS Trademark registrations are effective for ten years following the dated of filing the application and may be renewed for similar periods. Applications are made public so that interested parties may inspect and contest them. If another party wishes to contest on grounds of prior use, he must do so within three years after the time the registered mark becomes incontestable on these grounds. The application is examined for format and consistency for registerability. If the Registrar rejects an application, the applicant may appeal to the courts. According to existing regulations, all commercial and industrial products are classified into 36 categories. The following are not registrable as trademarks : (1) those containing Governmental insignia or emblems of official institutions such as Red Crescent and revolutionary foundations (2) those containing a picture of the Leader or the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran (except by special permission) (3) those conveying an impression of a connection with the high ranking officials of the Government (4) those contrary to public order or good morals (5) those likely to mislead the consumer as to origin or quality of goods. If a trademark has not been used within three years of its registration, any interested party may apply for cancellation.   -COPYRIGHTS Although there is no copyright law in Iran, Articles 23 through 31 of the Law for the Protection of the Rights of Authors, Composers and Artists of January 1st 1970 may be invoked in favor of an author if it is determined that his work has been published without his or his heirs permission. Under these provisions, owners of intellectual works are also entitled to protection of publication rights and against infringing import practices. V-Banking 1- Type of banks Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (cbi) is Responsible for the formulation and implementation of the monetary and Credit policies with due Regard to the general economic policy of the country. The objectives of cbi are to Maitain the value of The currency and equilibrium in the balance of payment to facilitate trade transactions, and to assist the economic growth of the country. Cbi shall fulfill the following functions: a) Issuance of notes and coins constituting the currency of the country. b) Supervision of banks and credit institutions. c) Formulation of Requlations pertaining to foreign exchange transaction, commitments and quarantees. Activities of the Bank and Credit institutions in Iran for presenting Banking services in the framework of Islamic Contracts in three groups : A. Commercial Banks: Include six Banks as Tejarat, Refah kargaran, sepah, saderat, Mellat and Melli. Commercial Bank aimed to present banking services and facilitate internal and external trade affairs in different economic sections. B. Specialized Banks: It is stablished to achieve targets in addition to presenting banking services to various economic sections and includes four banks as follows:   1. Housing bank: extends Credits to the producer and buyers of the housing unit. 2. Export Expansion Bank: Aimed to extend facilities in order to promote export and expand transactionwith other countries. 3. Band of Industry and Mine: It extend credit in order to stablish, maintainance, expansion and improvement (promotion) of industry, exploitation and development of mines and also optimum uses of national Resources. 4. Agricaultural Bank: Allocation of credit in order to improve living - standard of rural residents, increase of agricultured products and establishment and expansion of micro - industry and handicrafts and also participation in above mentioned affairs C. Credit associations: which are run by the private sector, including Kar afarinan Finance Association, Saman-e- Eghtesad and Sanat-e- Sakhteman (Construction Industry).