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Artists, publishers, and authors have their rights protected by a new centre

on Aug 19, 2022

The Malaysia Reprographic Rights Centre (MARC) statement, the country's first of its kind, is for the protection of the rights of authors, publishers, and visual artists, according to Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid

Rosol stated at the National Seminar on Managing Copyright in Malaysia Education that MARC is responsible for monitoring and enforcing rights, as well as collecting and distributing royalties to rights holders.

In partnership with relevant entities such as the Education Ministry and Higher Education Ministry, he stated the organization will be responsible for monitoring the re-use of print and digital works across Malaysia, such as at schools, universities, libraries, and print centers.

"MARC, as the Collective Management Organisation (CMO), will collaborate with local institutions to build a simple and efficient approach for determining a fair license price and assisting with information to enable equitable distribution of the money to authors and publishers," he stated.

MARC will also effectively license photocopying and collect remuneration for authors, publishers, and visual artists, and the licensing agreement might specify the terms and conditions for permissible copying agreed upon with rights holders' assent.

MARC is made up of the Malaysian Book Publishers Association (MABOPA), the Malaysian National Writers Association (PENA), the Malaysian Scholarly Publishing Council (MAPIM), and the Malaysian Comic Activist Society (PEKOMIK), the Malaysian Children's Picture Book Association (MYCPB).

At the same time, Rosol recommended copyright holders register their works with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) via the Copyright Voluntary Notification System, as it might help them provide prima facie evidence of ownership and evidence of the date of creation.

Meanwhile, he stated that Malaysia is doing all possible to improve the intellectual property (IP) practices, laws, and regulations in the country in order to retain an appealing business environment.

"By establishing MARC as a [collective management organization], it will provide legitimate access to information at a low cost."

"They also protect a favorable climate for invention by giving appropriate remuneration to rights holders and encouragement for future creations," he added.

According to Rosol, MyIPO will also organize various awareness events and extensive campaigns around the country to teach the public about copyright and the law, so that people may recognize the importance of such rights and uphold them.

Malaysia is actively involved in international copyright problems through MyIPO, and the Copyright (Amendment) Act 2022, which went into force on March 18 this year, demonstrates the government's attempt to provide more effective protection of copyright works in the digital world, he said.

He stated that Malaysia's membership in the Marrakesh Treaty will help the country's socioeconomic advancement by exempting it from acquiring permission from copyright holders to create and disseminate reading books in accessible format copy for the visually impaired.

According to Rosol, Malaysia's involvement in this pact will enable greater access to roughly 51,323 visually impaired people enrolled with the Social Welfare Department.