MyIPO pushes new IP rules for media as AI use expands

At a forum linked to the 2026 National Intellectual Property Commercialisation Conference, MyIPO director-general Yusnieza Syarmila Yusoff highlighted the need for a clear legal framework to address IP liability as AI platforms incorporate third-party material. She noted that charges for IP use under the balance of payments exceeded RM2 billion in 2024 and that forthcoming amendments to the Copyright Act will serve as a benchmark for safeguarding creative works.

Senior News Editor Robin Stanley Augustin stressed editors must verify content origins, obtain permissions and reject unverified deepfakes, while confirming that NST employs AI only for transcription and translation, not story writing. Enforcement Deputy Director-General Shamsul Nizam Khalil said his division will cooperate with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to block infringing sites under Section 263 of the Communications and Multimedia Act. The session, attended by MPI president Datuk Yong Soo Heong and around 50 media professionals, underscored the joint effort to protect owners’ rights and maintain Malaysia’s competitiveness.