Court Rules in Favor of Director of 'Hero'; Charges Against Asghar Farhadi Dismissed

The court ruling regarding the copyright infringement case related to the film 'Hero' by Asghar Farhadi was announced on Wednesday, March 14, and the renowned Iranian director was acquitted. According to domestic media reports in Iran, the court, referencing the opinions of seven experts, rejected all claims made by Azadeh Masihzadeh, the plaintiff in the case, and did not accept the charges against Asghar Farhadi, acquitting him. Based on these reports, the court's ruling was issued based on the specialized opinions of three professors from Tehran University, experts and instructors in intellectual property law, as well as four official art experts. These experts unanimously declared the plaintiff's claims baseless and rejected. The court emphasized that 'creating any film or artistic work inspired by a real event or news published about it is completely permissible, as a real event and its news belong to the public domain and are not the exclusive right of anyone, which is a universally accepted and obvious matter.' Azadeh Masihzadeh, a former student of Asghar Farhadi, claimed that the Iranian filmmaker used the idea from her documentary film titled 'Win-Win, Lose-Lose' to create 'Hero.' Ms. Masihzadeh accused Asghar Farhadi of 'artistic theft' and 'copyright infringement,' demanding a share of all domestic and foreign revenues and awards from the film 'Hero.' The court stated in its ruling that 'the plaintiff's documentary is derived from a real event and news published about it in the Jam-e Jam, Iran newspapers, and the Titr Online website, as well as a news report from the Fars provincial TV, and merely reading and recounting a published news story does not create ownership rights for anyone.' It was further stated that 'therefore, the similarities between these two documentary and narrative films stem from a common source of both works in reality and media news, and on the other hand, from the teachings and style of Asghar Farhadi's workshop instructor, and it can be definitively stated that no legal violation or infringement has occurred, and the claims made are completely rejected.' According to the court, 'in the investigations conducted, it was specified that the film 'Hero' in terms of concept, storytelling, structure, character development, execution, and all creative artistic elements discussed in the field of copyright law follows a completely independent and different path from the documentary and even the same real event and published news, and from no angle can the accusation of copyright infringement be applied to it.' Asghar Farhadi, who has won two Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film for 'A Separation' and 'The Salesman,' is considered a global figure in Iranian cinema. Despite the success of 'Hero' at some international festivals, it did not make it to the final list for the Oscars, and Asghar Farhadi lost the chance to receive his third Oscar. He has repeatedly denied allegations of artistic theft and copyright infringement in the making of this film. However, the news of this legal dispute has received significant attention on social media and in the media. Asghar Farhadi told the art magazine 'Variety': 'No protests have stopped in Iran.' Four artists have been 'banned from transactions'; Mehdi Yarahee: 'I am satisfied with my crime.' Continued support from artists for the nationwide protests in Iran; Afsaneh Bayegan also removed her mandatory hijab. Support from artists for protests in Iran; Asghar Farhadi: 'It is a human responsibility.' Screening of 'Holy Spider' and 'Hero' by Asghar Farhadi at the Jerusalem Film Festival in Israel. Asghar Farhadi became a judge at the Cannes Film Festival; a French actor was selected as the head of the jury. Azadeh Masihzadeh accused Asghar Farhadi of artistic theft in an interview with ABC News. The 'Bridge Across Borders' award was given to 'Hero'; Bijan Tehrani: Farhadi's use of the language of cinema is 'very masterful.'