# MyIPO: Malaysia's Intellectual Property Office and How to Register Every Type of IP

> MyIPO (the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia) is the statutory agency that registers and administers patents, trademarks, industrial designs, geographical indications and copyright notifications in Malaysia — here is what each right covers, how long it lasts, what it costs and how to file.

- Category: business
- Language: en
- Status: published
- Updated: 2026-08-14
- Canonical: https://negaraku.md/en/business/myipo-intellectual-property-corporation

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If you have invented something, built a brand, designed a product or want to protect a regional speciality in Malaysia, there is one door for almost all of it — and it is easy to be sent to the wrong service by a page trying to sell you a single one. **MyIPO**, the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (Malay: *Perbadanan Harta Intelek Malaysia*), is the statutory agency responsible for developing and administering Malaysia's whole intellectual-property system. That spans industrial property — patents, trademarks, industrial designs and layout-designs of integrated circuits — as well as copyright and related rights.

MyIPO was established under the **Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia Act 2002 (Act 617)**, which was passed to set up the Corporation and provide for its functions and powers. It came into operation on **3 March 2003** (gazette notification P.U. (B) 102/2003), the point at which it began running as a corporatised statutory body. It is a federal agency under the **Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN)**. Its stated mission is to provide a strong legal infrastructure and an effective administration regime that enhances creativity and the exploitation of IP.

## What rights does MyIPO administer, and for how long?

Each right has its own governing statute, but MyIPO administers them all. The one that trips people up is copyright: **Malaysia has no copyright registration system** — a work is protected automatically the moment it is created. MyIPO runs only a *voluntary notification* scheme for it.

| Right | Governing statute | Registered with MyIPO? | Protection term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patent | Patents Act 1983 (Act 291) | Yes | 20 years from filing |
| Utility innovation | Patents Act 1983 (Act 291) | Yes | 10 years + two 5-year extensions (max 20) |
| Trademark | Trademarks Act 2019 (Act 815) | Yes | 10 years, renewable for successive 10-year periods |
| Industrial design | Industrial Designs Act 1996 (Act 552) | Yes | 5 years + four 5-year extensions (max 25) |
| Geographical indication | Geographical Indications Act 2022 (Act 836) | Yes | See GI Act |
| IC layout-design | Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits Act 2000 (Act 601) | Automatic (no registration) | — |
| Copyright | Copyright Act 1987 (Act 332) | No — voluntary notification only | Life + 50 years (literary, musical, artistic); 50 years (sound recordings, films, broadcasts, published editions) |

To be **patentable**, an invention must be new (novel), involve an inventive step and be industrially applicable. A **utility innovation** is the "minor invention" route — a shorter, less demanding right for incremental improvements. **Copyright voluntary notification** does not create the right; it produces an official record that can help prove ownership.

## What does it cost to file a trademark?

The headline figure most businesses need is the trademark fee. MyIPO charges **RM950 per class** where the list of goods or services is adopted from its pre-approved list, and **RM1,100 per class** where it is not. A registration then lasts 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely in 10-year blocks.

If you want protection beyond Malaysia, MyIPO is the country's **Office of Origin for the Madrid System** (administered by WIPO). A trademark owner can file a single international application through MyIPO to seek protection in over **131 member countries**. The application must be in English, and MyIPO charges a **RM200 handling fee** on top of the fees payable directly to WIPO in Swiss Francs.

## What are geographical indications, and how many exist?

A **geographical indication (GI)** protects products whose reputation is tied to their place of origin. GIs are now governed by the **Geographical Indications Act 2022 (Act 836)**, which came into force on 18 March 2022, replacing the earlier Act 602 of 2000. It allows GIs for agricultural products, foodstuffs, handicrafts and industrial goods. As of December 2024, Malaysia had registered a total of **127 geographical indications**, with nine new applications during that year.

## What's next

To act on a specific right, go to MyIPO's dedicated section for it — trademarks, patents, industrial designs, GIs or copyright notification each have their own forms and fee schedules on the official portal. Because patent examination fees and procedures change with amendments, confirm the exact current schedule against MyIPO's own Forms and Fees pages before you file.

## Sources

- FAQ — Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia — https://www.myipo.gov.my/faq/ (Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO))
- Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia Act 2002 (Act 617) — https://www.myipo.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Intellectual-Property-Corporation-of-Malaysia-Act-2002-Act-617.pdf (Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO))
- Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia Act 2002 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_Property_Corporation_of_Malaysia_Act_2002 (Wikipedia)
- Corporate Info — Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia — https://www.myipo.gov.my/corporate-info/ (Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO))
- Applying for a Trademark — Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia — https://www.myipo.gov.my/applying-for-a-trademark/ (Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO))
- About Us — Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia — https://www.myipo.gov.my/about-us/ (Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO))
- Geographical Indications Act 2022 (Act 836) — https://www.myipo.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Geographical-Indications-Act-836-Akta-836-1.pdf (Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO))
- Geographical indications in Malaysia: Recent developments and progress — https://asiaiplaw.com/section/ip-analysts/geographical-indications-in-malaysia-recent-developments-and-progress (Asia IP Law)

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