Copyright Registration

Register Your Copyright For Protection In Malaysia

Q: What are the works eligible for copyright protection?

Works eligible for copyright protection include: literary works; musical works; artistic works; films; sound recordings; broadcasts; derivative works such as translations, adaptations, arrangements and other transformations of protected works; collections of works or collections of mere data; and published editions of works.

Q: Is it compulsory to register copyright?

No, it is not compulsory to register copyright. Malaysia is a member of the Berne Convention, which grants automatic copyright protection to original works without the need for registration, once the work is written down, recorded or fixed in a material form. However, you may use the Copyright Voluntary Notification system to obtain prima facie evidence of ownership and date of creation. Upon successful recordal, a certificate is issued and can be used in court to prove the facts stated. Voluntary notification of copyright works can be submitted to MyIPO with minimal charges.

Q: How long is the duration of copyright protection?

For literary, musical and artistic works, copyright subsists during the life of the author plus fifty (50) years after the author's death. For films, sound recordings and performers' rights, copyright lasts for fifty (50) years from the date the work is first published or fixed in a recording, or from the performance or fixation in a sound recording in the case of performers. Copyright in broadcasts subsists for fifty (50) years from the date the broadcast is first made.

Q: Does the copyright notification in Malaysia cover other countries?

No, the voluntary copyright notification in Malaysia is only applicable in Malaysia. To pursue copyright protection in other countries, you must comply with each country’s requirements. Not all countries require formal copyright registration, as in many jurisdictions protection is automatically granted upon creation of the work if the legal criteria are met.

Q: What is the information needed for copyright registration?

Information needed for copyright registration generally includes: the author’s name (with NRIC or passport number) and address; the owner’s name (with NRIC or passport number for individuals, or registration number for corporate applicants) and address; the title of the work, with translation and transliteration if it is not in the national language or English; the type of work; the date of creation; the date of publication, if applicable; and the licensee’s name and address, if applicable.

Getting Your Original Creations Secured

One of the most important parts of intellectual property protection is copyright registration. Under copyright law, your original creations, such as books, music, software, promotional materials, and artistic content, remain original and are protected.

Ownership of intellectual property should be addressed right at the outset, ideally right after any work is created. By establishing copyright registration, creators and businesses can better secure control over their intellectual and artistic works, as well as the commercial value they generate.

Registering Your Copyright In Malaysia And Why It Is Important

Although formal registration is not required in Malaysia, as copyright exists automatically for your original work under Malaysia law and the Berne Convention, we still strongly recommend registering your work under the Copyright Voluntary Notification system run by MyIPO. This creates a public record in the government that serves as official proof that you claimed ownership of the ideas or creations registered.

Once you are formally appointed as the certified copyright holder and presented with a certificate, this further carries indisputable proof of ownership and has legal significance. If the need arises, it will significantly streamline legal procedures for copyright disputes and infringements.

Our services include:

General advice regarding lodgement of copyright voluntary notification
Drafting Statutory Declaration in support of voluntary notification
Filing copyright voluntary notification in Malaysia
Facilitating registration of copyright in other jurisdictions
Negotiating and drafting license and/or assignment agreement
Advising on infringement of copyright
Advising on enforcement of copyright
Conducting copyright due diligence and portfolio management
Copyright valuation

Why Register Your Copyright With VIP?

When it comes to our VIPs, they deserve only the best. We handle all the nitty-gritty concerning copyright registration, from determining copyright validity and establishing thorough record-keeping systems to managing ownership transfers and licensing. Choosing VIP means having all your intellectual property protection and copyright registration handled for you!

Copyright FAQs

What are the works eligible for copyright protection?

a.       Literary works
b.       Musical works
c.       Artistic works
d.       Films
e.       Sound recordings
f.        Broadcasts
g.       Derivative works, including translation, adaptations and arrangements and other transformations of works eligible for copyright
h.       Collections of works or collections of mere data
i.         Published edition of works

It is compulsory to register the copyright?

No, it is not compulsory. Malaysia is a member state of the Berne Convention. Berne Convention gives automatic copyright protection to original works without the need for registration. Copyright arises automatically upon the creation of a work that has been written down, recorded or reduced to a material form.
However, copyright owner like you may use the Copyright Voluntary Notification to assist in providing prima facie evidence of titles or ownership of your created work and evidence of the date of creation. Upon successful recordal, the copyright owner will be issued a certificate being prima facie evidence on the copyright ownership. In case of any dispute, this certificate can be used in Court to prove the facts made.

Voluntary notification of copyright works can be submitted to MyIPO with minimal charges.

How long is the duration of copyright protection?

a. Literary, Musical or Artistic Works Copyright shall subsist during the life of the author plus fifty (50) years after his death.

b. Film, Sound Recordings and Performer Copyright shall subsist for fifty (50) years from the work was published, fixed in a fixation for the film and sound recording. For performer, the copyright work shall subsist from the performances or fixation in a sound recording.

c. Copyright in broadcasts shall subsist for fifty (50) years from which the broadcasts was first made.

Does the copyright notification in Malaysia cover other countries?

Unfortunately, no. The voluntary notification is only applicable in Malaysia.

You will need to apply to each desired country in which you want to pursue copyright protection. However, note that not all countries require copyright registration to be entitled for protection as it may be automatically granted upon creation of the work fulfilling the legal requiremen.

What is the information needed for copyright registration?

a.       Author’s name (including NRIC no. / Passport no.)
b.       Author’s address
c.       Owner’s name (including NRIC no. / Passport no. for individual; Registration no. for corporate applicant)
d.       Owner’s address
e.       Title of work (translation and transliteration is required if it is neither in Malaysia National language nor English language)
f.        Type of work
g.       Date of creation
h.       Date of publication (if applicable)
i.         Licensee’s name and address (if applicable)

To find further details about copyright law and registration in Malaysia, please consult our Copyright FAQs section.

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