KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 194 copyright infringement cases were recorded between 2021 and 2025, with seizures amounting to RM4.73mil, says Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali (pic).
He said the cases were investigated under the Copyright Act 1987, reflecting ongoing enforcement against various forms of piracy, including in the creative and publishing industries.
On book piracy specifically, Armizan said that from 2022 to 2025, only one case involving book copyright infringement was recorded, despite two complaints lodged by copyright owners.
“The case involved an offence under Section 41(1) of the Copyright Act 1987, namely making infringing copies for sale or hire, with the seizure of one academic book worth RM80,” he said in a written reply to Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad (PN–Kepala Batas).
“For the same period, there were no copyright infringement cases involving books that were prosecuted in court,” he added.
Armizan said books are categorised as literary works and are protected under the Copyright Act, which is enforced by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN).
On digital enforcement, he said the ministry is working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and internet service providers to block access to websites that violate the Copyright Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
“So far, one website selling pirated books has been blocked,” he said.
He added that the ministry has also been working with e-commerce platforms to remove infringing listings.
“A total of four listings involving the sale of books without the copyright owners’ permission have been taken down,” Armizan said.
