LEGAL PERSPECTIVES ON STUDENT REPROGRAPHIC PRACTICES AND COPYRIGHT COMPLIANCE IN MALAYSIAN SCHOOLS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v33i2.1074Keywords:
Copyright Law, Balance of Interest, Reprographic Rights, Fair Dealing, Reprographic Rights Organisations (RROs)Abstract
The lack of access to quality educational resources and the financial burden of reproducing materials pose significant challenges for Malaysian students and educators. These issues are compounded by limited copyright literacy, resulting in widespread reliance on reprographic practices that raise concerns about compliance and the sustainability of the publishing industry. Legally, these practices sit within Malaysia’s hybrid fair dealing/fair use framework under the Copyright Act 1987, which since 2012 requires the weighing of four fairness factors when assessing fair dealing (s.13(2A)), alongside specific allowances for research, private study, criticism and review, and reporting current events (s.13(2)(a)-(b)). Institutional licensing via a recognised Reproduction Rights Organisation (RRO) supports lawful classroom copying within agreed limits. As highlighted during WIPO’s 45th Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) in April 2024, limitations and exceptions are vital to support education, research and access to knowledge globally. This article interrogates how Malaysia’s domestic law aligns with those objectives through an empirical study of students’ access to resources, copying behaviours and copyright awareness. The findings emphasise the need to (i) clarify the contours of educational fair dealing, (ii) expand affordable licensing schemes for schools and (iii) strengthen copyright literacy, thereby ensuring equitable access while respecting intellectual property. Policy- relevant recommendations are offered for lawmakers, education authorities and rights-holders.
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