The Malaysian Copyright Act 1987 applies to works first published in Malaysia (details). The periods of copyright are as follows:

• For literary, musical or artistic works, copyright subsists for 50 years after the death of the author. Copyright for unpublished works subsists for 50 years after the publication. For anonymous or pseudonymous works copyright subsists for 50 years after publication unless the author is made known.
• For films and sound recordings, copyright subsists for 50 years after publication. For unpublished sound recordings, copyright subsists for 50 years after the fixation. For broadcasts, copyright subsists for 50 years after the broadcast is first made.
• Works by the government, governmental organisations and international organisations are subject to copyright for 50 years after publication: sections 11 and 23.
• Regardless of the above, the texts of laws, judicial opinions, and government reports are always free from copyright: section 3 (definition of literary work).

• A photograph, which has never previously been made available to the public (e.g. by publication or display at an exhibition) and which was taken more than 70 years ago (before 1 January 1955); or

• A photograph, which was made available to the public (e.g. by publication or display at an exhibition) more than 70 years ago (before 1 January 1955); or

• An artistic work other than a photograph (e.g. a painting), or a literary work, which was made available to the public (e.g. by publication or display at an exhibition) more than 70 years ago (before 1 January 1955).

This tag can be used only when the author cannot be ascertained by reasonable enquiry. If you wish to rely on it, please specify in the image description the research you have carried out to find who the author was. The above is all subject to any overriding publication right which may exist. In practice, publication right will often override the first of the bullet points listed.