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Specialist Guide to the

Global Leaders in Media Law Practice

TIER 1

Raja, Darryl & Loh leads the market with its media law specialisation. With particular expertise in defamation, lawyers routinely act for prominent individuals and publications in cases of libel, slander, malicious falsehood and contempt of court. The team has extensive experience representing print media and online media on freedom of speech, privacy protection and reputation management.  

The media team at Shearn Delamore & Co works collaboratively with the firm’s IP, IT, and telecoms lawyers, providing multidisciplinary advice. The firm assists gaming clients, local and overseas, with the review of structure, content and compliance of computer games. The team also advises on data privacy and protection, entertainment law, satellite television operations and e-commerce.

TIER 2

Multidisciplinary lawyers at Naqiz & Partners work across segments and practice areas including corporate, commercial and transactional. The firm’s media division works closely with the TMT and IP practices and includes a focus on emerging technology, e-commerce and data privacy.  

The TMT group at Shook Lin & Bok brings together transactional, dispute resolution and regulatory expertise. Lawyers have notable experience advising on communications and content distribution. The team assists client with outsourcing arrangements and contract negotiation, management and exits. Copyright and e-commerce also form part of the firm’s focus areas.

TIER 3

Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill’s IP and ICT group has a subdivision dedication to media, advertising and entertainment. Lawyers work with clients on celebrity endorsement and exclusivity agreements, advertising content for regulatory compliance issues and restrictions on advertising. Other focus areas include e-commerce, marketing and dispute resolution.

Rahmat Lim and Partners emphasis is on intellectual property and technology aspects of law that interact with media. The firm’s primary focus is on copyright management and protection. The team advises local and multinational companies on non-contentious matters including compliance, licensing and regulation.

TIER 4

Established in 1963, Skrine has long-standing experience acting for domestic and international clients across segments of the entertainment industry including television, radio, publishing, music and advertising. Lawyers advise on competition, acquisitions and joint ventures. The team works with celebrities on the management of intellectual property rights and contract negotiation.

The TMT practice group of IP boutique firm Wong Jin Nee & Teo (WJNT) has vast experience in advertising compliance. Working closely with media agencies, in-house and external legal counsels, as well as corporate marketing teams to conduct legal review of advertisement content, the team routinely assists clients across various industries including the technology, financial, medical, F&B and consumer goods sectors. WJNT also regularly advises on data privacy issues, as well as regulatory, licensing and other IP-related matters in the gaming, technology and telecommunications segments. Key contacts for WJNT's TMT practice group include Jin Nee Wong and Joanne Kong.

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  REGIONS WE COVER

  Middle East and North Africa

  North America

  Asia-Pacific

  Western Europe

  Central and Eastern Europe

Digital media consumption in Malaysia continued to rise over the past year while content regulation came into focus after the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced a review.

The MCMC stated that it is ‘committed to escalating the review of the online content management framework to address content provoking racism and disharmony amongst the people in the country.’

In December 2022, the interim chairman of MCMC, Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din, said the country is facing increased posting of ‘provocative and harmful content online’.

Mr Salim Fateh Din explained: “It is apt that the regulatory framework is reviewed given the

current situation online that perpetuates the spread of content harmful to national security and harmony, including elements of extreme ideology and fake news.”

In other developments, the home entertainment market reached a value of USD30 million in 2022, with market volume to reach USD48.57 million by 2027. The SVoD segment is projected to reach a market value of USD143.80 this year, and USD229.20 million by 2027.

MALAYSIA