The recognition and/or protection of performer's rights in
Malaysia is a relatively recent development in the broader context
of copyright law. Unlike copyright, which has a long-established
history, the legal framework for performer's rights only
emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. This evolution
has been driven largely by Malaysia's international
obligations and technological advancements that have changed the
way performances are created, shared, and exploited.
Evolution of Performer's Rights under Malaysian Copyright
Law
The protection of performers under Malaysian law was first
introduced in the Copyright Act 1987 (“CA
1987”) through amendments made in the year 2000.
This amendment was primarily motivated by Malaysia's
obligations under international treaties by becoming a signatory to
the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights (“TRIPS Agreement”) since 1
January 19951 and subsequently, the accession to
the WIPO
