summary
Malaysia is a signatory of the Berne Convention and therefore, copyrighted works created in Malaysia would be recognized by each contracting member country of the Berne Convention.
The Copyright Act 1987 (“the Act”) provides comprehensive protection for copyrightable works. The Act outlines the nature of works eligible for copyright, the scope of protection, and the manner in which the protection is accorded. Copyright in Malaysia gives an automatic exclusive right to the owner of a copyright for a specific period over the copyrighted works. The latest amendments of the Act allows the copyright owner to claim ownership by filing Copyright Voluntary Notification (VN) which can be used as a prima facie evidence in proving his creative works as the owner of his copyrighted works.
Works that are entitled for copyright are:-
(a) Literary works;
(b) Musical works;
(c) Artistic works;
(d) Films;
(e) Sound recordings;
(f) Broadcasts; and
(g) Derivative works.
Copyright protection for literary, musical or artistic works shall subsist during the life of the author and shall continue to subsist until the expiry of a period of 50 years after his death. In sound recordings, broadcasts and films, copyright protection is for 50 years after the works are first published, made or fixed. The Act also provides protection for the performer's rights in a live performance which shall continue to subsist for fifty years from the beginning of the calendar year following the year in which the live performance was given.