Intellectual property liability among key challenges for media in AI era

In Malaysia, the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) is intensifying its efforts to educate media practitioners about intellectual property (IP) challenges in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Yusnieza Syarmila Yusoff, MyIPO's director-general, emphasized the importance of a clear legal framework in informing industry players, especially regarding liability when AI platforms utilize content owned by others.

In 2024, charges for the use of intellectual property under Malaysia's balance of payments account surpassed RM2 billion. When AI-related issues arise, a primary concern is determining liability if someone else's content snippets are used, Yusnieza stated during a forum held in conjunction with the 2026 National Intellectual Property Commercialisation Conference and Exhibition. The event, organized in collaboration with the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI), aimed to address these concerns.

Proposed amendments to the Copyright Act, anticipated to be introduced in parliament next year, could significantly strengthen protection for creative works in Malaysia. Meanwhile, Robin Stanley Augustin, New Straits Times Senior News Editor, highlighted the heavy responsibility editors bear in maintaining newsroom integrity and adhering to intellectual property guidelines.

He advised that if the source of content is uncertain, it should not be shared or, alternatively, permission should be sought and the original owner credited. In response to the AI era, deepfake content and synthetic information pose substantial challenges, and media practitioners must strive to uphold the truth and accuracy of facts.

Augustin also noted that New Straits Times employs AI for tasks such as transcription and translation but does not use AI to write stories, with editors serving as the ultimate decision-makers. Any video whose authenticity is questionable would not be uploaded to the platform. The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry's Enforcement Division deputy director-general (operations), Shamsul Nizam Khalil, revealed that the division would collaborate with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to enforce Section 263 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, facilitating website blocking and content removal.

Firm enforcement measures are essential to protect content owners and preserve the nation's competitiveness ratings and foreign direct investment, according to Shamsul Nizam. The session was attended by MPI president Datuk Yong Soo Heong and approximately 50 media practitioners and editors.