A1420, was enacted to modernize Malaysia's copyright laws, superseding the Imperial Copyright Act of 1911 which was previously applicable in British Malaya and the British Empire.

This legislative overhaul was aimed at enhancing legal frameworks to support the growth and dissemination of creative works in alignment with international standards.

The Act came into force on December 1, 1987, after being assented to on April 30, 1987.

A1420), reflects the continuous updates made to accommodate evolving copyright needs.

[1] The Copyright Act 1987, in its current form (1 July 2012), consists of 8 parts containing 61 sections and no schedule (including 9 amendments).