Veronica Sainik @ Ronald v 1. ) MELUHA LIFE SCIENCES SDN BHD 2. ) VIJAYENDRAN A/L GOVINDASAMY 3. ) PREMASANGERY A/P KATHIVALOO

w-02ipcvw-1713-09-2022 Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) 11 December 2025 • W-02(IPCv)(W)-1713-09/2022 • 21 min read
2 cases cited (0 SG, 2 foreign)

Outcome

Consequently, we allow the plaintiff’s claim in terms of prayers (a) and (b), damages for Moral Rights under Section 25 of the CA 1987 in the sum of RM100,000.00 and aggravated damages in the sum of RM100,000.00, and both sums are subject to interest of 5% from the date of filing the suit until full payment. [70] In respect of costs, we allow cost of RM50,000.00 here and below subject to allocator.

Quoted verbatim from the judgment of Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) (w-02ipcvw-1713-09-2022). Read the full judgment on the official Malaysia Courts portal for the complete decision.

Catchwords

Intellectual Property- Copyright-Master’s dissertation – Subsistence of copyright – Fixation in material form – Assignment of copyright to university – Difference between economic rights and moral rights-Moral Rights- Infringement of moral rights – Section 25 Copyright Act 1987 – Right of paternity – Right of integrity – Inalienability of moral rights despite assignment of copyright- Infringement of Moral Rights-Failure to identify author – Unauthorized modification and reproduction of dissertation data and methodology in a patent – Substantial similarity – Whether modifications prejudiced author’s honour or reputation -Patents-Invalidation of patent – Novelty requirement – Section 14 Patents Act 1983 – Prior art – Master’s dissertation as prior art – Anticipation of subject matter – Patent invalid ab initio-Counterclaim:-Abuse of court process – Whether filing a claim for infringement of moral rights constitutes an abuse of process – Exercise of statutory rights-Error of law and fact by trial judge – Failure to consider statutory requirements of Section 25(2) Copyright Act 1987.

Practice Areas

Intellectual Property

Judges (3)

Azizah binti Haji Nawawi Delivered Azizul Azmi bin Adnan Coram Mohd Firuz bin Jaffril Coram

Counsel (6)

Adnan Sundra & Low Firm Hafiz Zubir & Co. Firm Ahmad Hafiz Zubir Counsel Appellant Iman Danial Hakim Counsel Appellant Soo An Qi Counsel Respondent Steven Cheok Hou Cher Counsel Respondent

Parties (4)

MELUHA LIFE SCIENCES Sdn Bhd Respondent Premasangery a/p Kathivaloo Respondent Veronica Sainik @ Ronald Appellant Vijayendran a/l Govindasamy Respondent

Statutes Cited

Copyright Act
s 25
Copyright Act 1987 (Cap 332)
s 25
Patents Act 1983 (Cap 291)
s 14

Cases Cited (2)

MY (2)
[2011] 2 CLJ 569 [2017] 10 CLJ 226

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Malaysia Courts portal.

Read on eJudgment

Source: eJudgment (w-02ipcvw-1713-09-2022)