Technological advances made in the fields of communications and information have given rise to new issues and challenges with which copyright systems everywhere have to deal. This thesis examines the significance of these challenges to the Jlalaysian copyright system and the responses made by the Copyright Act 1987 to the issues presented. Chapter 1 provides a brief historical evolution of Malaysian copyright law, while Chapter 2 outlines the law of copyright as embodied in the Copyright Act 1987. Both these Chapters provide an introduction to the rest of the Chapters in the thesis. Chapter 3 examines the impact of various recorders, technologies, video tape such as recorders, photocopiers, sound information storage and retrieval systems and satell i te and cable transmissions, on the rights of copyright owners. Chapter 4 discusses developments in computer technology, in particular issues relating to the legal protection of computer programs, video games, computer output, databases and integrated circuit chips under copyright law. Advances in technology have also increased the economic significance of industrial designs, including functional designs. Chapter 5 focuses on the question of their legal protection and the problem of the overlap between copyright and designs laws. In Chapter 6, the problems of the enforcement of copyright in the face of technological advances are exaDined. To lend a proper perspective to the legal posi tioD in Kalaysia, an overview of the international situation and the recommendations proposed in response to the issues posed, is provided in each chapter.