Purpose: The present study aimed to identify and analyze the determinants underlying Iran’s accession to international copyright treaties. Method: To achieve this objective, a combined exploratory and integrative methodology was utilized, integrating meta-synthesis (Sandelowski & Barroso’s model) using the Delphi technique. During the meta-synthesis phase, 51 studies were selected. Findings were obtained through open coding, organized into concepts, and arranged into thematic categories. A two-round Delphi process involving 23 experts—including publishers, copyright professionals, software and game developers, web developers, and artists—was conducted to validate the results. The data were analyzed using the mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation. Findings: The meta-synthesis revealed 114 concepts, divided into 34 categories across four domains: economic, cultural, political, and legal. In the initial Delphi round, the majority of the categories were deemed to be highly significant, whereas “Religious issues”, “Shortcomings of the Berne Convention,” and “legal/structural challenges” garnered lower consensus. In the subsequent round, expert agreement increased, with “Preparation of legal infrastructure,” “Preparation of managerial infrastructure,” and “Establishment of collective management organizations” identified as the most crucial. The category “limitations of the Berne Convention” was omitted due to a mean score falling below 4. Conclusion: In summary, 42 out of 43 categories (approximately 98%) attained mean scores of 4 or above, indicating a strong consensus among experts. The establishment of robust legal and managerial infrastructures was highlighted as the most essential factor. These findings provide both theoretical perspectives and practical recommendations for policymakers regarding the development and execution of effective copyright policies.
Pashootan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.