By Jerry J. Day
Malaysia’s new Industrial Designs Act came into force on 1st September 1999. The new law replaces the existing automatic extension to Malaysia of United Kingdom Registered Designs. Key features of the new designs law are a local novelty standard, provision for claiming priority from the first application made in or for another Paris Convention country (the priority period is 6 months maximum), and acceptance of multiple-design applications.
A United Kingdom Registered Design that is registered and in force immediately before 1st September 1999 will continue to extend to Malaysia, but will now be subject to the payment of renewal fees in Malaysia every 5 years.
A United Kingdom Registered Design application that is pending immediately before 1st September 1999 may be made the subject of a Malaysian application under the new Act within one year of that date. Such an application will be accorded the priority date of the United Kingdom application.
