WIPO assists Malaysia to initiate collective licensing of text- and image-based works
September 2, 2022
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO), the Malaysia Reprographic Rights Center (MARC) and the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO) joined forces to launch the implementation of the collective management of text- and image-based works in Malaysia.
A national seminar held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 18, 2022, celebrating the granting of the declaration certificate to the young Collective Management Organization (CMO) MARC, addressed educational institutions and the publishing sector in Malaysia. The Honorable Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Dato' Rosol bin Wahid, opened the seminar and called on all stakeholders to work together, for the benefit of the creative sector and society at large. In her opening speech, Ms. Anita Huss-Ekerhult, Copyright Management Division, Copyright and Creative Industries Sector, WIPO, referred to the rich literature of Malaysia and in particular to the many authors who gave to the Malaysian literature its reputation of excellence. She congratulated the Malaysian government and all stakeholders involved on the important achievement of setting the ground for collective licensing of educational uses:
The example Malaysia gives to the world – which deserves a greater exposure and outreach – is that writing and publishing is an integral part of a country’s cultural creativity as long as it is enshrined in a full functioning ecosystem which enables authors and publishers to be recognized and rewarded amid other parts of the value chain all the way through to the readers, to benefit from those creative assets.
Ms. Anita Huss-Ekerhult
Mr. Ahmed Hussein, Chief Executive of MARC, expressed his enthusiasm to see the collective management of text- and image-based works in Malaysia starting on such a firm ground. On behalf of IFRRO, Ms. Caroline Morgan conveyed her full support and commitment of the international federation to the success of MARC. The fruitful conversations were facilitated by Mr. James Alexander, Consultant to WIPO and IFRRO for this initiative, accompanied by Mr. Andrew Fong, Chief Executive of the Copyright Licensing and Administration of Singapore Ltd. (CLASS), who shared the Singaporean experience of collective licensing of users of educational material.
Following the national seminar, the main users of educational material, public and private schools and universities in Malaysia, established a working group, with the aim of discussing collective license agreements and related tariffs.
WIPO is grateful to all those involved in this initiative and to all who contributed to its successful outcome.