Copyright Act 1987 (Malaysia)

This article is about the current copyright legislation in Malaysia. For the similarly-named copyright legislation in Singapore, see Commons:Copyright rules by territory/Singapore.

The Copyright Act 1987 (Malaysia) (Malay: Akta Hakcipta 1987) (Act No. 332), as amended up to Act No. A1420, was enacted to modernize Malaysia's copyright laws, superseding the Imperial Copyright Act of 1911 which was previously applicable in British Malaya and the British Empire.

Copyright Act 1987
Parliament of Malaysia
Long title An Act to make better provisions in the law relating to copyright and for other matters connected therewith.
Citation	Act 332
Territorial extent	Throughout Malaysia
Passed by	Dewan Rakyat
Passed	20 March 1987
Passed by	Dewan Negara
Passed	27 March 1987
Royal assent	30 April 1987
Commenced	21 May 1987
Effective	[1 December 1987, P.U.(B) 586/1987]
Legislative history
First chamber: Dewan Rakyat
Bill title	Copyright Bill 1987
Bill citation	D.R. 03/1987
Introduced by	Kok Wee Kiat, Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry
First reading	16 March 1987
Second reading	19 March 1987
Third reading	20 March 1987
Second chamber: Dewan Negara
Bill title	Copyright Bill 1987
Bill citation	D.R. 03/1987
Member(s) in charge	Kok Wee Kiat, Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry
First reading	23 March 1987
Second reading	27 March 1987
Third reading	27 March 1987
Amended by
Copyright (Amendment) Act 1990 [Act A775] Copyright (Amendment) Act 1996 [Act A952] Copyright (Amendment) Act 1997 [Act A994] Copyright (Amendment) Act 2000 [Act A1082] Copyright (Amendment) Act 2002 [Act A1139] Revision of Laws (Rectification of Copyright Act 1987) Order 2003 [P.U. (A) 277/2003] Copyright (Amendment) Act 2003 [Act A1195] Copyright Act 1987-Corrigendum [P.U. (B) 508/2010] Copyright (Amendment) Act 2012 [Act A1420]
Related legislation
Copyright Act 1969 [Act 10]
Keywords
Copyright
Status: In force

This legislative overhaul was aimed at enhancing legal frameworks to support the growth and dissemination of creative works in alignment with international standards. The Act came into force on December 1, 1987, after being assented to on April 30, 1987.

The consolidated version, which includes amendments up to the Copyright (Amendment) Act 2012 (Act No. A1420), reflects the continuous updates made to accommodate evolving copyright needs.^[1]

Structure

The Copyright Act 1987, in its current form (1 July 2012), consists of 8 parts containing 61 sections and no schedule (including 9 amendments).

• Part I: Preliminary
• Part II: General Provisions
• Part III: Nature and Duration of Copyright
• Part IV: Ownership and Assignment of Copyright
• Part IVA: Copyright Licensing
• Part V: Copyright Tribunal
• Part VI: Remedies for Infringements and Offences
• Part VIA: Anti-Camcording
• Part VIB: Limitation of Liabilities of the Service Provider
• Part VII: Enforcement
• Part VIII: Miscellaneous

See also

• Copyright Act