1. Intellectual principles

I have always regarded intellectual and political work as a contribution to the common inheritance of the Iranian nation rather than a means of personal enrichment or prominence. My writings are intended to advance historical understanding, encourage independent thought and contribute to Iran's liberation, the defence of her national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the preservation of her ancient historical continuity, and the dignity, freedom and prosperity of her people.

 

I believe that knowledge should circulate freely, particularly when it contributes to the intellectual and political emancipation of a nation. I have therefore never sought financial compensation for the ordinary dissemination of my writings, nor do I intend to impose such a requirement.

 

This commitment to intellectual freedom, however, does not constitute an abandonment of authorship or copyright. Nor should it be mistaken for permission to appropriate another person's intellectual labour, misrepresent its origins or exploit it for financial gain.

 

The distinction is straightforward: I welcome the free circulation of my work, but I do not authorise others to turn it into a commercial product.

 

 

2. Copyright ownership

Unless expressly stated otherwise, copyright in my original articles, essays, historical studies, political analyses and other written works remains vested in me.

 

The public availability of these writings, including their publication on this website, does not place them in the public domain or constitute a waiver or transfer of copyright.

 

The permissions granted under this policy are intended to facilitate the free exchange of knowledge while preserving the integrity of authorship and preventing commercial appropriation.

 

 

3. Free reproduction and distribution

My original writings may be freely copied, reproduced, shared and distributed, in whole or in part, without payment of fees, royalties or any requirement to obtain prior written permission.

 

This permission extends to non-commercial websites, educational and scholarly resources, freely distributed electronic publications, printed materials and other forms of distribution, provided that the following conditions are observed:

• I am clearly identified as the original author, and the original source is acknowledged.
• The reproduced material is made available entirely free of charge, without a sale price, subscription fee, paywall or other payment requirement.
• The reproduction or distribution is not undertaken for commercial exploitation or financial profit.
• My writings are not falsely attributed to another person or presented as someone else's original intellectual creation.
• The reproduced material is not altered or presented in a manner that misrepresents its original meaning.

 

No prior permission is necessary where these conditions are satisfied.

 

I particularly welcome the circulation of my writings in support of Iranian historical and cultural awareness, intellectual independence, national sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom.

 

 

4. Quotations, references and commercial publications

I place no financial restrictions on the legitimate quotation, discussion, analysis, criticism or scholarly examination of my published writings, including within commercially distributed publications.

 

Authors, academics, researchers, journalists, commentators and publishers may quote reasonable and appropriate passages from my work in their own original publications, whether those publications are distributed freely or offered for sale.

 

No fee, royalty or prior permission is required for such quotations, provided that:

• I am clearly acknowledged as the author of the quoted material.
• The original work is properly cited, with sufficient information to identify its title and source.
• The extent of the quotation is appropriate to its purpose and does not amount to the unauthorised republication of the work itself.

 

The fact that a book, newspaper, academic journal, documentary or other independently authored publication is commercially distributed does not, in itself, restrict its legitimate quotation of my writings.

Similarly, authors and commentators remain free to examine, challenge, develop or refer to the ideas and arguments advanced in my published work. Where particular research, interpretations or arguments are specifically relied upon, I expect their intellectual source to be properly acknowledged in accordance with established scholarly practice.

 

This permission to quote and cite must not be confused with permission to reproduce substantial portions of my writings as a substitute for the original work or to sell compilations consisting principally of my material.

 

 

5. Prohibition of commercial republication and sale

I expressly prohibit the commercial reproduction, republication or sale of my original writings, in whole or in substantial part, whether under my own name, another person's name or the name of an organisation or publisher.

 

This prohibition includes the reproduction and sale of my writings in printed books, e-books, commercial anthologies, paid digital publications, audiobooks and other commercially exploited formats.

 

It also extends to the commercial exploitation of reproductions through subscriptions, paywalls, advertising arrangements or other revenue-generating mechanisms where the reproduced work itself is being monetised.

 

The acknowledgement of my authorship, however accurate or prominent, does not authorise the sale of reproductions of my writings.

 

Equally, the absence of a financial charge does not authorise anyone to present my writings as their own original work.

 

A person may write and sell an original book that discusses my research, examines my arguments or includes properly attributed quotations from my published writings. That person may not assemble my articles into a book and sell the resulting compilation, regardless of whether my name appears on its cover.

 

I do not seek payment for the circulation of my intellectual work, and I do not grant others the right to derive commercial profit from reproducing and selling it.

 

 

6. Authorship and intellectual integrity

Permission to reproduce my writings does not confer authorship, ownership or any right to misrepresent their intellectual origins.

 

Anyone reproducing my work under the permissions granted by this policy must identify me as the original author.

 

The removal of my name, substitution of another person's name, or presentation of my original writings as the work of another author is not authorised, whether the material is distributed commercially or without charge.

 

I expressly assert my moral right to be identified as the author of my original literary works, in accordance with applicable copyright law, including sections 77 and 78 of the United Kingdom's Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

 

I likewise reserve my applicable rights concerning the distortion or derogatory treatment of my writings.

 

 

7. Statutory rights and exceptions

Nothing in this policy is intended to restrict lawful uses permitted independently by applicable copyright legislation.

 

In particular, the statutory provisions governing fair dealing, quotation, criticism, review and other recognised copyright exceptions remain unaffected.

 

The permission granted in Section 4 is intended to encourage legitimate quotation in original publications without imposing additional financial or administrative barriers. It does not authorise the reproduction of entire works, or substantial parts of them, for commercial republication.

 

 

8. Third-party material

This policy applies exclusively to original material in which I hold the relevant copyright.

 

Works written, illustrated, photographed or otherwise created by third parties, whether reproduced, quoted, hosted or linked on this website, remain subject to the rights of their respective copyright holders.

 

No permission granted under this policy should be interpreted as extending to material over which I do not possess the necessary rights.

 

 

9. Effective date and scope

This revised policy takes effect from the date of its publication and governs the permissions offered for subsequent use of my original writings.

 

It does not purport to revoke rights lawfully acquired under earlier permissions or agreements, nor does it affect uses independently authorised by applicable law.

 

All rights not expressly granted under this policy remain reserved.

 

10. Final declaration

My writings are offered freely for the advancement of knowledge and the intellectual and political interests of my compatriots. They may be shared, studied, reproduced without charge and legitimately quoted in commercial or non-commercial publications, subject to the conditions stated above.

 

Their free availability is an expression of principle, not an invitation to commercial exploitation.

 

I ask for no royalties, demand no payment and require no prior permission for the uses expressly permitted by this policy. I require only that my authorship be respected and that no one convert my freely available writings into a commercial product.

 

© 1997 Shapour Suren-Pahlav. All rights not expressly granted are reserved.