Zaharah (seated centre) in a photo call with some of the participants after the talk at SMA-TEGAS Digital Innovation Hub Miri.
MIRI: Awareness of intellectual property (IP) among Malaysians in general including in Sarawak is increasing albeit at a very slow pace compared to foreigners.
Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) registered IP practitioner Zaharah Malim said statistics from MyIPO showed that for last year’s alone, out of the total 34,566 trademarks registered, 13,804 were by Malaysians while 20,762 by foreigners.
“IP awareness in Sarawak even among entrepreneurs is very low because the people have the mindset of ‘testing the market’ while respecting less of others’ creativity.
“Others who are aware only count on the registration for example RM1,020 for trademark but did not value the 10 years of protection and how they can monetise the IP to maximise their incomes,” said Zaharah during an IP talk here on Tuesday organised jointly by Sarawak Multimedia Agency and SMA-TEGAS Digital Innovation Hub Miri.
She added patent category of IP is much lower among Malaysians whereby last year, out of the total 4,382 approved and registered with MyIPO, Malaysians only accounted for 527 compared to foreigners who registered 3,855 patents.
However, she said Sarawak topped the list for IPs under Geographical Indication (GI) accounting for more than 20 out of the total 84 for the whole country. . “Even then the people failed to make full use of the GI to enhance products under their brands. GI is for quality of goods, which is given to organisations or community. For example Belacan Bintulu (Bintulu shrimp paste) is famous for its quality, and those from Bintulu could ride on GI to market their Belacan Bintulu under their name such as brand XYZ Belacan Bintulu,” she said.
Zaharah stressed that it is important especially for the people to apply IP to create, protect and monetise their products and services, as Intellectual property encompasses rights to trademarks, patents, geographical indication, industrial designs and layout designs as well as copyright. She said among the benefits, IP laws protect more than assets – they protect creativity, entrepreneurship, and most importantly – people.
On the other hand, trademark laws protect and encourage innovation and maintenance of high-quality products and services, and help companies promote customer loyalty or brand’s trust and awareness, and consequently secure secondary revenue and leverage on the IP’s rights.
For registration of IP, she encouraged the people to use registered agents of MyIPO who will not only help them to register but also create their products/services, protect them by monitoring throughout the IP protection period against any infringement, while at the same time monetise their products or services. For further details contact MyIPO Sarawak at 082-459 075 during office hours or meet them at Lot 9936 (Sublot 5), Queen’s Court, Block E, Jalan Wan Alwi, Taman Wan Alwi, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak.
Alternatively they can contact Zaharah at 085-326 606 during office hours Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.30pm.