Author: Irdahwati Md Jani

In principle, every country is free to design its laws on copyright and related rights according to its own needs, policy objectives, and legal traditions. Particularly, it is in the discretion of domestic lawmakers whether and to what extent they want to protect works of foreign nationals. In the early days culture-importing countries tended to grant little protection to foreign works in order to secure cheap copies for their interior markets.

One of the latest developments in the Malaysian publishing industry is the current review of the National Book Policy. The Policy, adopted in 1985, proposes that the book industry should be recognised as an essential industry and, therefore, support must be given for its development. This review is aimed at making proposals for changes which can be implemented in order to support a more vibrant, integrated and commercially healthy publishing sector able to cope with changes and move toward knowledge-based economy. One of the proposals is the restructuring of the present National Book Council to give it more strength in overseeing the implementation of the policy and the existing book related laws.