The Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia, or MyIPO, turned 15 yesterday. Formerly the Intellectual Property Division of the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK), MyIPO was corporatised on Mar 3, 2003. Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin discusses its role as the nation’s custodian of intellectual property rights.
Question: How is the response towards the agency’s efforts in creating awareness on the importance of intellectual property (IP) rights?
Answer: There is an increase in awareness among the people to register and protect their IPs after the agency was corporatised, along with the introduction of the National Intellectual Property Policy. MyIPO has conducted many campaigns, including advocacy programmes in schools and universities to educate the public on the importance of registering their innovation, inventions to prevent disputes in the future.
The initiatives have produced results, which is reflected through the increase in the number of applications.
Q: How significant was the increase in applicants wanting to register their IPs with MyIPO?
A: Based on statistics, the increase is very significant.
MyIPO received 20,000 applications annually during the initial years after its corporatisation. The number has increased by 100 per cent to 40,000 applications a year for the past six years, which is the result of an effective of innovation, research and development management.
The move by the government to introduce the National Intellectual Property Policy is also a contributing factor, which has helped to boost confidence among foreign investors to invest and do business in Malaysia.
Q: What is your advice to people who take IP registration lightly?
A: I want to call on the business community to understand the importance of registering their inventions and innovative products with MyIPO to prevent them from being stolen or infringed by other parties.
I was approached by a writer, who was facing problems in obtaining royalties from the sale of his book, during an event in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, recently.
It turned out that the writer did not register his book with MyIPO. He could not claim royalties from the sale of his book because the publisher had claimed the book’s ownership.
That is why I am urging all creative and talented people to protect their intellectual property by registering with MyIPO to avoid such incident and earn more income from their ideas.
Q: What other programmes have MyIPO introduced to get more people to register, especially those from the small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs)?
A: MyIPO is working closely with other agencies under the ministry, including the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) and Perbadanan Nasional Bhd to educate small- and medium-scale business operators on how to protect their IPs.
When a business operator registers his or her company with SSM, the applicant will also be reminded to register the trademark, product or innovation with MyIPO. This is to avoid problems in the future, such as overlapping claims by disputing parties.
Hence, trademark registration is necessary among the business community, especially small- and medium-scale enterprises.
There are many people venturing into entrepreneurship. Having said that, there are also entrepreneurs, whose businesses are at risk of losing their exclusive rights because of their failure to register their IPs.
Q: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had revealed his vision to tap into IPs as a new source of wealth in transforming the nation and making Malaysia more competitive. How can people generate more income within the intellectual property ecosystem?
A: We, at MyIPO, and generally KPDNKK, understand and are embracing Najib’s aspiration.
The prime minister wants the rakyat to generate wealth by commercialising their creativity and innovativeness, which at the same time, would also benefit the nation by driving our economy forward.
MyIPO is the custodian of IPs in the country, and a credible agency primed to help people by providing IP registration services, as well as comprehensive and user-friendly information.
We are committed in our mission to provide a strong legal infrastructure and effective administration regime to enhance creativity and exploitation of IP.
Q: How will MyIPO support the aspiration of the prime minister in this regard?
A: We are creating a conducive ecosystem by setting aside an allocation under the 11th Malaysia Plan to help students and youths to file their intellectual properties with MyIPO.
Apart from organising the “National Intellectual Property Day” annually, the agency is also working with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to formulate guidelines and produce experts in IP valuation.
The government is also considering to join the Marrakesh Treaty — an international treaty on the mandatory limitations and exceptions for the benefit of the blind, visually-impaired and otherwise print disabled, to facilitate access of published copyright works.
Q: What are the efforts taken by the government to provide adequate protection to both local and foreign investors?
A: Intellectual protection in Malaysia covers patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright, geographical indications and layout designs of integrated circuits. Malaysia is also a member of WIPO and a signatory of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects on Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
TRIPS was ratified by member nations of the World Trade Organisation in 1995. The laws that we have in the country conforms with international standards.
The government will continue to review the present legislation to provide greater protection to all investors, since the local IP landscape is dynamic and continuously evolving.
Q: How will IP commercialisation fit into the government’s efforts in charting the nation’s future under the 2050 National Transformation (TN50) plan?
A: The ministry plans to cooperate with the Education Ministry to introduce topics on IP in the school syllabus.
This will equip children with the knowledge of IP as well as to nurture a culture of respecting the rights of creators.
We are also collaborating with the ministry to boost interest among students and youth on IP rights through the “IP Funtastic” and “IP Summer Camp” programmes. We want to create a generation that is technology savvy and innovative, in line with the spirit of TN50.
