KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has made a significant move in the global intellectual property arena by signing a declaration of support for the establishment of the Design Law Treaty (DLT), joining 36 other countries, including Japan, the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and ASEAN nations. According to BERNAMA News Agency, the declaration was signed by Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation (MyIPO) director-general Kamal Kormin, during the Diplomatic Conference to Conclude and Adopt a DLT hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh from Nov 11 to 22, with participation from 158 countries. In a statement today, MyIPO said the DLT, also known as the Riyadh Design Law Treaty, is an international legal instrument adopted by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The treaty aims to streamline design application procedures, enhance access to design protection, and facilitate cross-border trade. It complements existing agreements on patents and trademarks, positioning it as a strateg ic tool to accelerate innovation and global design development. 'By joining the DLT, Malaysia stands to benefit from simplified design registration processes, especially for local designers, including small-scale creators and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), enabling them to protect their works both domestically and internationally,' read the statement. MyIPO expressed confidence that this move will solidify Malaysia's role in fostering a more progressive and inclusive intellectual property protection framework on the international stage.