Karyawan Steps Into Legal Battle Over New Copyright Rules

By The Malketeer

A fresh showdown is brewing in Malaysia’s creative rights arena, and it’s one the marketing and media industries can’t afford to ignore.

As the Copyright (Collective Management Organisations or CMO) Guidelines 2025 gear up for enforcement next January, a growing rift has emerged between government regulators, established royalty collection bodies, and now, the Malaysian Artistes’ Association (Karyawan), which has formally stepped in to support the changes.

Karyawan President Dato’ Freddie Fernandez confirmed this week that the association has instructed its lawyers to intervene in two judicial review proceedings, both seeking to challenge the new regulatory framework designed to overhaul how royalties are collected and distributed in Malaysia.

“These guidelines stemmed from years of complaints by music authors, singers and composers who felt their voices were not being heard,” Freddie said.

“We believe they will finally give us a say in how royalty-collecting bodies should operate.”

The judicial reviews, filed by Public Performance Malaysia Bhd (PPM) and Recording Performers Malaysia Bhd (RPM), were granted leave by the Kuala Lumpur High Court earlier this month.

A third player, Music Authors Copyright Protection Bhd (MACP), has also joined the legal battle, with its own review now scheduled for hearing on August 19.

All three are seeking to quash the 2025 Guidelines, arguing that the Controller of Copyright and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) had overstepped their legal authority and failed to conduct sufficient consultation before introducing the sweeping changes.

What’s At Stake?

For decades, Malaysia’s music industry has operated under a patchwork of collection practices, often dominated by a few.

But complaints over lack of transparency, skewed distributions, and the marginalisation of independent voices have been simmering beneath the surface.

The new guidelines, as proposed by the ministry, seek to standardise governance and improve accountability within the royalty collection ecosystem.

Crucially, they introduce clearer mechanisms for decision-making, dispute resolution, and equitable revenue-sharing—potentially disrupting entrenched practices.

“This is not just about musicians, it’s about brand campaigns, commercials, jingles, background scores, event performances and every touchpoint where music monetisation intersects with the marketing industry,” said one IP consultant familiar with the matter.

Implications for Marketers and Advertisers

Depending on how the court rules, the outcome could:

• Change how licensing fees are calculated
• Affect who controls the rights for public performance
• Shift negotiation power in the use of music for commercials, branded content, and events

With increased scrutiny likely, agencies may need to revisit usage rights agreements and beef up legal vetting procedures.

Regardless of which side gains the upper hand, this case is poised to reshape the rules of engagement for musicians, copyright agencies, and media players alike.

Download guidelines here.