CyCore aims to fight copyright violations of local films, says Nanta

Its minister, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said, the programme is a well-planned method made especially for producers and copyright owners of local films.

“It is a cooperation with more than 50 strategic partners of government agencies, e-commerce platforms and Internet Service Provider (ISP) done in one platform to prevent activities related to pirating digital film online,” he said in a press conference today.

According to Nanta, the programme is implemented by blocking websites and taking down pirated content.

“This is the fastest and the most effective measure to slow down activities related to pirating digital film with the help of strategic partners without involving any judicial institutions,” he said.

He said, through CyCore, restrictions on websites and content takedown are expected to be done within 48 hours from the notification sent by copyright owners who participated in the programme.

“The CyCore programme has gone through several testing series with owners of film copyrights and has gained support as well as received positive response through its implementation,” he said.

Nanta said a series of tests done towards 15 films that participated in the programme resulted in over 298 websites being blocked.

“A total of 1,418 content takedowns have been successfully implemented since 2021,” he said.

Nanta further said CyCore copyright owners were given guidance and understanding on their role to make a report on any violation of their copyright on social media or e-commerce platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram, Lazada and Shopee that broadcast or sell their films without permission.

“This is because e-commerce and social media platforms have their own Intellectual property policies that will continue to cooperate and help copyright owners by taking down any contents that violate their intellectual property rights,” he said.

Nanta added, the ministry also implemented criminal profiling towards individual who is suspected of actively distributing pirated digital films under the Copyrights Act 1987 so that stringent action can be taken against them.

If convicted, individuals can be fined up to RM2,00 for every violation of copyright infringement, or imprisonment of not more than five years or both.