Sarawak Multimedia Authority warns against unauthorised use of Sukma XXI logo, mascot

KUCHING (July 30): Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) has been registered as the rightful owner of the logo and mascot of 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma XXI), its general manager Dato Dr Anderson Tiong has confirmed.

As such, he points out that any unauthorised use of the Sukma XXI logo and mascot constitutes as an infringement of SMA’s intellectual property rights under the Copyright Act 1987.

“Effective immediately, we urge any individual(s) and/or entity(ies) to cease and desist any unauthorised use of the logo and mascot of Sukma XXI Sarawak 2024.

“The Authority reserves its legal rights to pursue legal remedies under civil and criminal law without further reference and/or notice.

“We appreciate your cooperation in respecting these legal boundaries and protecting the integrity of the Sarawak government’s resources,” he said in a statement today, which was issued following instances of unauthorised use of the logo and mascot by certain parties, including for sales of merchandise, through social media platforms.

The issue became viral recently after the Sukma Sarawak 2024 official Facebook page exposed the matter.

Tiong stressed that acts of unauthorised use would include reproducing in any material form, performing, showing, playing or distributing to the public; making for sale or rent any infringing copy; and the distribution of infringing copies.

“It also involves the selling, renting or by way of trade, exposing or offering for sale or rent of any infringing copy; the possession, otherwise for private or domestic use, of any infringing copy; exhibiting in public of any infringing copy by way of trade; and the making or possessing of any contrivance used or intended to be used for the purpose of making infringing copies.

“As such, the Authority wishes to remind the public to abstain from wilfully committing any of the above-mentioned acts, failing which the individual(s) and/or entity(ies) shall be directly and/or vicariously liable for copyright infringement.

“The Authority takes these infringements seriously and is committed to protecting its intellectual property rights,” he said.