Adipven, Jalan Bangsar Utama 1, Kuala Lumpur (2026)

05/08/2026

Malaysia's New Patent Enforcement Mechanism: What the Patents (Compounding of Offences) Regulations 2026 Mean for Businesses

On 15 April 2026, Malaysia introduced an important addition to its patent enforcement framework with the coming into force of the Patents (Compounding of Offences) Regulations 2026.

Although these Regulations have not received widespread attention, they represent a significant procedural development under the Patents Act 1983. For the first time, certain offences under the Act can now be resolved through a formal compounding process, rather than proceeding directly to prosecution.

For patent owners, manufacturers, importers, distributors and businesses operating in innovation-driven industries, understanding these Regulations is increasingly important.

What is "Compounding of Offences"?
In simple terms, compounding is a statutory mechanism that allows certain offences to be settled by payment of a prescribed compound amount, subject to the approval of the Public Prosecutor. Once the compound is accepted and paid within the prescribed period, no further criminal proceedings will be initiated in respect of that offence.

This mechanism has existed under various Malaysian legislation for many years. However, it is now formally available for specified offences under the Patents Act.

Which Patent Offences Can Be Compounded?
The Regulations designate twelve offences under the Patents Act 1983 as compoundable offences. Businesses should note that these provisions generally relate to offences involving false representations, misuse of patent-related claims, obstruction of authorised officers, failure to comply with statutory requirements and other regulatory offences under the Act. The Regulations themselves identify the relevant statutory provisions but do not amend the substantive offences contained in the Patents Act.

How Does the Process Work?
The Regulations establish a structured procedure:

An authorised officer receives information or a complaint regarding a compoundable offence.
Written consent must first be obtained from the Public Prosecutor before any offer to compound can be made.
The alleged offender receives a formal Offer to Compound in the prescribed form.
The offer remains valid for 14 days from the date of receipt, unless an extension is granted in writing.
If the offer is accepted and the compound amount is paid within the stipulated period, no further prosecution will be commenced.
If payment is not made within the prescribed period, criminal prosecution may proceed without further notice.

Flexible Payment Options
The Regulations also modernise the payment process. Compounds may be paid through cash, money order, postal order, bank draft, credit card, debit card, charge card, prepaid card and electronic fund transfer.

Electronic receipts are expressly recognised as official receipts under the Regulations.

Why This Matters
From a policy perspective, these Regulations are likely intended to improve regulatory efficiency, reduce the need for lengthy criminal prosecutions, encourage voluntary compliance, aallow enforcement agencies to focus resources on more serious cases and provide businesses with an opportunity to resolve less serious regulatory breaches promptly.

Importantly, the Regulations do not weaken patent enforcement. Rather, they introduce an additional enforcement option while preserving the Government's ability to prosecute where appropriate.

Practical Takeaways for Businesses
Companies involved in innovation, manufacturing, importation or commercialisation of patented technology should consider reviewing their internal compliance programmes.

Some practical steps include ensuring employees understand the proper use of patent markings and patent-related representations, reviewing product packaging and marketing materials for compliance with the Patents Act, establishing procedures for responding promptly to any investigation by authorised officers and seeking legal advice immediately upon receiving any notice relating to alleged patent offences.

Ignoring a compound offer could ultimately expose the business to criminal prosecution if the matter is not resolved within the prescribed timeframe.

Looking Ahead
Malaysia continues to strengthen its patent ecosystem as part of its broader innovation agenda. While much attention is often given to patent filing procedures and enforcement through civil litigation, regulatory compliance under the Patents Act is equally important.

The Patents (Compounding of Offences) Regulations 2026 add another layer to Malaysia's IP enforcement framework by providing a practical mechanism for resolving specified offences efficiently while maintaining appropriate prosecutorial oversight.

Businesses, IP professionals and patent practitioners should familiarise themselves with these Regulations to ensure that compliance forms part of their overall patent strategy.

Source: Federal Government Gazette, Patents (Compounding of Offences) Regulations 2026 (P.U. (A) 170), published on 14 April 2026 and effective from 15 April 2026.

05/08/2026

The recent statement by Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Dr. Fuziah Salleh, as reported by Malay Mail on 4 August 2026, marks an important development in Malaysia's approach to AI and IP.

According to the report, the Deputy Minister reiterated that the use of copyrighted works for AI training requires the approval of the copyright owner, with licensing arrangements and royalty payments to be agreed upon by the relevant parties under the Copyright Act 1987.

This announcement is more than just a clarification of copyright law. It signals that Malaysia is beginning to address one of the most significant legal and commercial issues surrounding generative AI.

AI systems do not emerge in a vacuum. They are trained using enormous quantities of data, including books, articles, photographs, videos, music, software code and countless other creative works.

Different jurisdictions have adopted different approaches. Some rely on copyright exceptions or fair use doctrines, while others are moving towards licensing frameworks or mandatory transparency requirements.

Malaysia now appears to be taking a position that places considerable emphasis on the rights of copyright owners.

For authors, musicians, photographers, software developers, publishers and content creators, this is encouraging news.

Creative works represent years of investment, expertise and originality. If these works contribute to the commercial success of AI systems, it is reasonable to ask whether creators should receive recognition or even compensation for that contribution. A licensing-based approach provides legal certainty while recognising the value of IP.

Having said that, the announcement also presents practical challenges. Modern AI models may require billions of pieces of data for training. Identifying every copyright owner and negotiating licences individually may not always be commercially feasible.

This raises important questions:

How can licensing be implemented at scale?

Will Malaysia eventually introduce collective licensing mechanisms?

Could there be statutory exceptions for certain types of AI research?

How will open-source datasets be treated?

What obligations will apply to foreign AI providers operating in Malaysia?

These are issues that policymakers will likely need to address in the coming years.

Some may view stricter copyright compliance as slowing AI development. We see it differently as clear legal rules create confidence.

Businesses are more willing to invest when they understand the legal framework. Investors prefer certainty over ambiguity. Likewise, creators are more likely to embrace AI when they know their rights are respected.

Innovation and IP protection should not be viewed as opposing forces. They are complementary pillars of a sustainable AI ecosystem.

Whether you are developing AI solutions or adopting AI within your organisation, this development should encourage businesses to review their AI governance practices.

Some practical considerations include:

Understanding the provenance of datasets used for AI training.

Reviewing whether licences are required for copyrighted materials.

Maintaining documentation of datasets and training sources.

Establishing internal AI governance and compliance policies.

Seeking legal advice before commercial deployment of AI models.

These steps will become increasingly important as AI regulation continues to evolve.

Looking Ahead
Malaysia has positioned itself as an emerging regional hub for AI, digital innovation and advanced technologies. At the same time, our IP framework must continue evolving to provide clarity for both innovators and rights holders.

The challenge is not choosing between AI and copyright. The challenge is building an ecosystem where both can thrive together.

As a IP and Commercialization Firm, Adipven welcomes this conversation. The future of AI will depend not only on technological capability, but also on responsible governance, respect for creators' rights and legal certainty for businesses.

What are your thoughts? Should Malaysia introduce a formal licensing framework for AI training data, or should certain uses of copyrighted works be exempted to encourage AI innovation?

Source: Malay Mail, "AI training using copyrighted works requires owners' approval, says deputy minister", published 4 August 2026.

03/08/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-copyright-creativity-does-using-make-you-author-m-sdn-bhd--werdc/

24/07/2026

IP Alert: Indonesia to Increase Official IP Fees Effective August 2026

Under the newly enacted Government Regulation No. 30 of 2026 (replacing GR No. 45 of 2024), the Indonesian Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) will revise its official fee schedule effective August 1, 2026.

To optimize your legal budget and avoid paying higher rates:

Accelerate Planned Trademark Filings: Submit new trademark applications before August 1, 2026 to lock in lower official fees.

Audit Renewal Schedules: Review trademarks coming up for renewal and file early if within the permitted window.

Finalize Pending Recordals: Complete assignments, ownership changes, or license recordals before the fee hike takes effect.

Contact our team today at [email protected] to review your filings and ensure your applications are submitted ahead of the deadline!

13/07/2026

Over 1,000 Malaysian Songs Found in AI Datasets: What Does This Mean for Copyright Owners and AI Companies?

A report by Malay Mail that more than 1,000 Malaysian songs have been identified in an AI dataset search engine has sparked an important discussion on the relationship between AI and copyright law in Malaysia. The report follows an investigation by journalist Alex Reisner, whose work led to the launch of The AI Watchdog, a search engine that enables copyright owners to determine whether their works appear in several large datasets commonly circulated within the AI development community. According to the investigation, these datasets collectively contain more than 21 million songs.

The report identified works by many Malaysian artists, including Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, Tan Sri P. Ramlee, Yuna, Butterfingers, Hujan, Alleycats, Ziana Zain and others. However, it is equally important to note that the presence of a song within a dataset does not necessarily mean that the song was actually used to train an AI model, nor does the absence of a song prove that it was never used. This distinction was also highlighted by both The Atlantic and Malay Mail.

AI is fundamentally dependent on data. Whether developing large language models, music generation systems, image generators or recommendation engines, developers require enormous datasets to train their models.

The legal question is no longer whether AI requires copyrighted works as it clearly does. The real question is under what circumstances may copyrighted works be used for AI training? This question remains one of the most significant unresolved issues in intellectual property law worldwide.

Countries are currently adopting different approaches. Some countries are considering broad text and data mining exceptions and others require licences from copyright owners. At the same time, several lawsuits are presently before courts in the United States and Europe, and many of these decisions are expected to shape global AI regulation.

Malaysia has yet to develop comprehensive legislation specifically addressing AI training using copyrighted works.

Malaysia's Copyright Act 1987 was enacted long before the emergence of generative AI. While the Act grants copyright owners exclusive rights over reproduction and communication of their works, it does not expressly address whether copying works for machine learning constitutes copyright infringement.

Consequently, several legal questions remain unanswered, including (1) is copying works solely for AI training an act of reproduction?, (2) does creating embeddings or mathematical representations infringe copyright?, (3) would temporary copies fall within existing exceptions? and (4) could AI training qualify under any statutory exception? Until Malaysian courts or Parliament provide guidance, significant legal uncertainty remains.

As Malaysian IP practitioners, we advise copyright owners to adopt a proactive approach rather than waiting for disputes to arise. Some practical steps include:

1. Audit, audit and audit

Understand exactly what copyright assets you own. Many businesses underestimate the value of their music, photographs, videos, software, databases and written content.

2. Monitor AI Dataset Search Tools

Where available, check whether your works appear in publicly searchable AI datasets. While inclusion alone does not establish infringement, it provides useful information for further assessment.

3. Keep Proper Records

Maintain clear records showing ownership, authorship, licensing arrangements and publication dates. These documents become invaluable should enforcement become necessary.

4. Review Existing Licence Agreements

Many older publishing agreements, recording agreements and software licences never contemplated AI. Rights holders should determine whether existing agreements already permit AI training or whether amendments may be necessary.

5. Develop an AI Licensing Strategy

Instead of viewing AI solely as a threat, many copyright owners may discover new commercial opportunities by licensing their catalogues for AI training under negotiated commercial terms.

From the AI companies' perspective, responsible AI development requires more than technological excellence. It requires legal certainty and public trust. AI companies should therefore consider the following:

1. Know Your Training Data

Maintain detailed documentation regarding the origin of datasets used for training. A robust data governance framework is becoming an essential element of responsible AI development.

2. Conduct Intellectual Property Due Diligence

Before using publicly available datasets, assess whether the dataset contains copyrighted material and whether appropriate permissions have been obtained. Public availability does not automatically mean unrestricted legal use.

3. Consider Licensing

Where commercially feasible, licensed datasets significantly reduce legal risk and enhance market credibility. Many organisations today increasingly prefer AI systems trained using lawfully sourced content.

4. Implement Transparency

Maintain records explaining how datasets were acquired, processed and used. Future AI regulations worldwide are moving towards greater transparency and accountability.

5. Build AI Governance Policies

Technical compliance alone is no longer sufficient. Companies should establish internal governance covering copyright, privacy, bias, cybersecurity and responsible AI deployment.

Way Forward

One encouraging aspect of the Malay Mail report is the measured response from Taja Archive Sdn. Bhd., whose director, Ms. Kimmy Khir, emphasised that the company would continue monitoring developments and assess appropriate action where there is credible evidence of unauthorised use. She also highlighted the need for greater transparency, clearer licensing practices and meaningful engagement between AI developers and rights holders. This balanced approach deserves recognition.

Innovation and copyright protection should not be viewed as opposing forces. History has repeatedly shown that new technologies, from photocopiers to digital music streaming initially created uncertainty before eventually leading to workable licensing models that benefited both creators and technology providers. AI is likely to follow a similar path.

The debate surrounding AI training datasets is only beginning. For Malaysia, this presents an opportunity to develop a balanced legal framework that encourages AI innovation while respecting the legitimate rights of creators.

Businesses should not wait until legislation changes or litigation begins. Whether you are a copyright owner, music publisher, software developer, university, content creator or AI company, now is the time to review your IP portfolio, understand your exposure to AI-related legal risks, develop appropriate licensing and governance strategies and of course seek professional advice where necessary.

The future of AI will not be determined solely by technology. It will also depend on how successfully we balance innovation with respect for intellectual property rights.

Source: https://www.malaymail.com/news/showbiz/2026/07/13/publisher-calls-for-clarity-as-over-1000-malaysian-songs-appear-in-ai-dataset-search-engine/226979

Copyright of the image used belongs to Malay Mail.

02/07/2026

FIFA World Cup 2026™: A Masterclass in Intellectual Property Protection and Brand Value

Every four years, the FIFA World Cup™ captivates billions of fans across the globe. While most people focus on the football, businesses and intellectual property (IP) professionals see something equally remarkable i.e. a multi-billion-dollar ecosystem built upon IP.

The tournament demonstrates how trademarks, copyrights, patents, industrial designs, licensing, and enforcement work together to create one of the world's most valuable sporting brands.

The FIFA World Cup™ is far more than a sporting competition. It is a global brand.

Trademark
The tournament name, official logos, emblems, mascots, slogans, trophy design, event branding, and many other assets are protected by IP rights. These rights enable the organisers to license official merchandise, attract premium sponsors, secure lucrative broadcasting agreements, and maintain the exclusivity that makes the event commercially successful.

Without effective IP protection, the commercial value of the tournament would be significantly diminished.

Copyright
Every official broadcast, promotional video, photograph, digital graphic, match highlight, website, and marketing campaign is protected by copyright. Broadcasting rights alone generate billions of dollars in revenue, illustrating how creative works can become highly valuable commercial assets when properly managed and enforced.

Patent
Football has become increasingly technology-driven. Patented innovations have transformed the game through technologies such as goal-line technology, semi-automated offside detection, advanced football construction and manufacturing techniques, wearable athlete performance monitoring systems, AI-powered tactical analysis, stadium security and crowd management technologies etc.

Innovation continues long after the final whistle, and patents provide companies with the confidence to invest in research and development.

Licensing
One of the greatest strengths of the FIFA World Cup™ lies in its licensing programme. Official jerseys, footballs, collectibles, apparel, toys, video games, and souvenirs are manufactured by authorised licensees around the world.

Licensing allows IP owners to expand globally while maintaining quality control and generating significant royalty income.
For many businesses, IP is not merely a legal asset but it is actually a revenue-generating asset.

Ambush Marketing
One of the biggest threats faced by organisers of major sporting events and sponsors is ambush marketing. Ambush marketing occurs when a business attempts to create the impression that it is associated with a major event without paying sponsorship fees or obtaining authorisation.

Examples include running advertisements that heavily reference a major sporting event without permission, using confusingly similar logos, slogans, colours, or promotional themes, launching campaigns timed to coincide with the tournament to imply an official relationship, organising promotional contests or giveaways that create the false impression of endorsement etc.

Even where a business avoids directly copying a registered trademark, it may still create consumer confusion or unfairly exploit the goodwill associated with the event.

Ambush marketing undermines the value enjoyed by legitimate sponsors who have invested substantial sums for exclusive marketing rights.

What IP Owners Can Do
Protecting your IP right requires more than simply registering them. IP owners should adopt a comprehensive protection strategy that includes registering trademarks early in all key jurisdictions, protecting logos, mascots, slogans, and distinctive packaging, watching newly filed trademark applications that may conflict with existing rights, registering industrial designs where appropriate, filing patent applications for innovative products and technologies, monitoring marketplaces, retail outlets, websites, and social media platforms for infringement, establishing clear licensing programmes with robust contractual controls, taking prompt enforcement action against counterfeiters, infringers, and unauthorised commercial use, and developing an anti-ambush marketing strategy before major product launches, exhibitions, conferences, or sporting events.
IP protection should be viewed as an ongoing business strategy rather than a one-time legal exercise.

What This Means for Businesses
Although few companies organise events on the scale of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the underlying principles apply to businesses of every size.

Whether you are launching a new product, organising an exhibition, hosting a conference, building a technology platform, commercialising research, or expanding internationally, your IP may become one of your most valuable business assets.

The earlier it is identified, protected, managed, and enforced, the greater its commercial potential.

How Adipven Can Help
At Adipven, we work with businesses, universities, government agencies, startups, SMEs, and multinational corporations to transform IP into a strategic business advantage.
Our services include IP audits and strategy development, patent, utility innovation, industrial design, trademark, and copyright protection, IP watching, anti-counterfeiting and market investigations, licensing, commercialisation, and technology transfer advisory, IP due diligence for investments, mergers, acquisitions, and fundraising and IP training and awareness programmes.

Whether you are protecting a new innovation, expanding your brand into overseas markets, or seeking to maximise the value of your IP, a proactive IP strategy can make all the difference.
FIFA World Cup 2026™ reminds us that behind every globally recognised brand lies a carefully managed IP portfolio. The same principles that protect one of the world's most valuable sporting events can help businesses of every size create, protect, and monetise their own competitive advantage.

Disclaimer: "FIFA", "FIFA World Cup", the FIFA World Cup Trophy, and any other trademarks, logos, emblems, mascots, or related IP referred to in this article are the property of their respective owners. They are mentioned solely for educational and informational purposes. No affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement, or association with the respective rights holders is intended or implied.

19/06/2026

Adipven has been recognised in the prestigious IAM Patent 1000 2026, ALB IP Rankings 2026 and IP STARS rankings

In today's innovation-driven economy, intellectual property (IP) is no longer merely a legal right. It is a strategic business asset capable of driving growth, attracting investment, creating competitive advantages, and generating new revenue streams.

Adipven is honoured that it has once again been recognised by leading international IP directories and legal ranking organisations, reaffirming our commitment to helping innovators, businesses, universities, research institutions, and multinational corporations protect and commercialise their IP assets.

Adipven has been recognised in the prestigious IAM Patent 1000 2026 rankings, with the publication describing the firm as a reputable agency with expertise in handling highly technical matters across diverse industries including ICT, chemistry, biotechnology, and engineering. The publication further recognised Adipven's ability to assist clients seamlessly throughout the patent lifecycle, from drafting and filing to prosecution across multiple jurisdictions.

In addition, Adipven was ranked in the ALB IP Rankings 2026 among Malaysia's leading IP practices, reflecting the firm's continued growth and standing within the regional IP community.

The firm's capabilities have also been recognised by IP STARS, one of the world's most respected IP ranking publications, where Adipven continues to be acknowledged for its patent and trademark prosecution work in Malaysia.

The strength of any IP firm lies in its people. IAM Patent 1000 recognised Ramakrishna Damodharan, Nur Amalina Zamani and Surain Satgunarajah as recommended individuals in Malaysia. According to IAM, the team's diverse technical backgrounds in applied chemistry, biotechnology and international IP practice enable Adipven to effectively handle complex inventions and provide commercially focused solutions for clients.

While securing patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyrights and other IP rights remains a critical first step, successful organisations understand that registration alone does not create value. The true value of IP emerges when it is strategically managed and commercialised.

At Adipven, our approach extends beyond obtaining registrations. We work closely with clients to identify and protect valuable innovations and brands, develop strategic IP portfolios aligned with business objectives, enhance the attractiveness of technologies and brands to investors and partners, support licensing, technology transfer and commercialisation initiatives, assist universities and research institutions in converting research outputs into commercial opportunities, strengthen market positioning through effective IP strategies and build long-term competitive advantages through IP assets.

Adipven was founded on the belief that IP and commercialisation should go hand in hand. Our mission is not only to help clients secure legal protection but also to assist them in transforming innovation into sustainable business success.

Future competitiveness of any country depends on its ability to create, protect and commercialise innovation. As businesses increasingly invest in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, digital technologies and sustainable solutions, IP will continue to play a central role in converting ideas into economic value.

At Adipven, we remain committed to helping innovators, entrepreneurs, corporations and research institutions navigate this journey—from invention to protection, and from protection to commercialisation.

Because IP should not simply be protected. It should be leveraged and it should create opportunities. And ultimately, it should generate value.

19/06/2026

Intellectual Property: A Key Driver in Malaysia's Journey Towards the World's Top 15 Most Competitive Economies

25/03/2026

Happy World IP Day 2026

Every year on 26 April, the global IP community celebrates World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, highlighting how IP drives innovation, creativity, and economic growth.

In exactly a month's time, the world will be celebrating the World IP Day 2026. The 2026 theme, “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!”, shines a spotlight on the crucial role of IP in the world of sports.

From performance-enhancing equipment and wearable technologies to iconic team logos and digital fan experiences, sports innovation relies heavily on intellectual property. Patents protect ground breaking designs and technologies, trademarks safeguard brand identities, and copyrights cover creative content — all ensuring that innovators, athletes, and organizations can fully benefit from their ideas.

Why IP Matters in Sports
Sports innovation extends beyond the field. IP enables creators to protect and commercialise technology that improves athletic performance or safety, safeguard iconic brands and logos, generating revenue through sponsorships, merchandise, and licensing, secure media and broadcast rights, allowing leagues and clubs to monetise fan engagement and/or control emerging digital experiences, including virtual fan participation and esports platforms

Without proper IP protection, innovations are vulnerable to copying, undermining investment and slowing progress.

Nike’s Flyknit and Air Technology are Nike’s Flyknit technologies, designed for lightweight, high-performance footwear, is protected by patents that maintain the company’s competitive advantage. Similarly, Nike’s Air cushioning systems illustrate how patents can secure technological leadership while building a strong brand worldwide.

Patented systems for instant replay and analytics have transformed professional sports, enhancing fairness and fan experience globally.

Platforms like Virtually Live convert live sports data into immersive VR experiences, relying on patented technology to deliver engaging digital fan interactions.

Malaysia is increasingly recognising IP’s role in sports. Local teams and leagues use trademarks and copyrights to protect merchandise, logos, and event formats, preventing counterfeiting and unlocking revenue opportunities.

Initiatives by the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) programs raise awareness of IP’s intersection with sports innovation. In this regard, sports like DragonShot (previously known as Jombola), a racket sport developed in Malaysia, demonstrate the country’s creative potential. As these innovations grow, IP protection becomes essential for safeguarding rules, equipment, and branding.

Areas such as AI-powered training systems, wearable analytics, digital media, and adaptive robotics are generating new types of innovation that require strategic IP protection. Patents and design rights attract investment, support licensing, and help startups scale internationally.

How Adipven Can Help
While the sports innovation landscape is complex, Adipven assists innovators and businesses in navigating IP strategically in identifying relevant IP rights for inventions, brands, and creative content, developing IP strategies aligned with commercial goals, securing IP protection locally and internationally and/or monitoring and enforcing IP rights to maintain a competitive advantage

This World IP Day 2026, let’s celebrate the inventors, designers, athletes, and technologists whose ideas powered by IP are reshaping the future of sports.

📩 For enquiries or support, please do write to us at [email protected]

Adipven

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