The Strict Liability for Damages Resulting from Inventions in Iranian and Common Laws

Inventions are important factors of economic development and society welfare ; however, they may cause damage to consumers or production inputs due to their imperfection or incompleteness, during mass production or in the stage of their use. Irrespective of goods and services producers’ liability, the inventor could also be considered liable for the harmful act due to his presence as one of the causes of loss. In Iranian law, there has been no specific study of the prospective liability for inventors, while examining their liabilities seem necessary. With regard to the industrial and technical complexities in this field, it is difficult to apply the principles of contractual liability or traditional principles of non-contractual liability such as fault, and considering the interests of society and consumers of new inventions, a strict liability for inventors is preferred as it is applicable to defective goods. At present, in Common law, lawsuits against inventors due to patent imperfections are examined based on liability for defective goods. In Imamiah jurisprudence, by invoking some jurisprudential principles such as "Al Ghunm Bil Ghurm" (one can claim profit only if one is ready to take liability), the burden of liability can be placed on the inventors without the need to prove fault.