The Dewan Rakyat has passed The Trademarks Bill 2019 which would allow companies or individuals to register non-traditional trademarks such as smell, shape, sound, and colour.
This is in line with Malaysia’s plan in adopting the Madrid Protocol and also a necessary expansion of our current protection scope of trademarks.
Domestric Trade and Consumer Affairs deputy minister Chong Chieng Jen said the bill would allow intellectual properties to be used as financial instruments, enhance civil and criminal proceedings and enforcement.
“The ever-changing global trademark protection landscape required Act 175 to be reviewed in line with current needs of traders, the business community and parties with vested interest and adding non-traditional marks,” he said.