Applications for individual licenses are reportedly assessed on a case-by-case basis. The Minister may grant a license based on the recommendations of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) under the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA), taking into account the specified documents outlined in Regulation 7 of the Communications and Multimedia (Licensing) Regulations 2000. Applicants must submit an application to the MCMC, provide supporting documentation, and pay an application fee of RM 10,000 (approx. 2,000 USD) per individual license. The MCMC then has 60 days to evaluate the application and make a recommendation to the Minister, who has 30 days to approve it.
It is reported that the acquisition of a licence in the telecommunications sector is subject to various restrictions, including a legally prescribed limit on the number of licences that may be issued, minimum capital requirements for applicants, and other regulatory conditions.

Malaysia has only partially appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.

According to the Malaysian Communications And Multimedia Commission Act 1998, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.

Section 4.1 of the National Cloud Computing Policy stipulates that confidential data must be stored exclusively within sovereign cloud zones located in Malaysia. This requirement encompasses classified governmental documents as well as data pertaining to national critical information infrastructure. The term national critical information infrastructure refers to any computer or computer system whose disruption or destruction would adversely affect the provision of services essential to Malaysia’s security, defence, foreign relations, economy, public health, public safety, or public order, or would impair the capacity of the Federal Government or any State Government to discharge its functions effectively.

Pursuant to Section 24 of the Sales Tax Act 2018 and Section 24 of the Service Tax Act 2018, every taxable person is obligated to maintain comprehensive records of all transactions that may affect their liability to sales or service tax, as applicable. Such records must include, but are not limited to, documentation relating to the sale, importation, and exportation of taxable goods, as well as the provision of taxable services. These records are required to be retained for a period of seven years from the latest date to which the records pertain, and must be kept within Malaysia, unless the Director General of Customs and Excise grants approval for an alternative arrangement.

There are restrictions for national applicants wishing to apply for patents internationally. They must file in Malaysia initially before becoming eligible to apply for patents in other countries two months subsequent to the date of filing (Sections 23A and 30A of the Patents Act).
In addition, it is reported that foreign applicants must appoint an agent, specifically a registered Malaysian patent attorney, to undertake patent registration procedures in Malaysia.

Malaysia is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). However, the country does not consider itself bound by Art. 59 related to disputes.

Section 13.2, together with other provisions of the Copyright Act, establishes a clear framework of copyright exceptions grounded in the doctrine of fair dealing and supplemented by a range of specific, enumerated exceptions. These provisions permit the lawful use of copyrighted works by third parties without the need to obtain prior authorisation.

It is reported that online piracy in Malaysia continues to pose a significant challenge for rights holders.

Malaysia has adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.

Malaysia has adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

In Malaysia, trade secrets and confidential information are protected by the common law tort of breach of confidential information and/or by contract. Trade secrets are protected as long as they consistently meet the eligibility for being confidential information.
According to Art. 35 of the Trade Descriptions Act, any person who discloses or makes use of any confidential information or document with respect to a particular enterprise or the affairs of an individual obtained by virtue of any provision of this Act commits an offence. The law defines confidential information as trade, business, or industrial information that belongs to any person, has economic value, and is not generally available to or known by others.

It is reported that there is an obligation for passive infrastructure sharing in Malaysia to deliver telecom services to end users.

It is reported that Malaysia generally invites international tenders only when domestically sourced goods and services are unavailable. In such instances, foreign companies are, by law, required to engage a local partner who satisfies Bumiputera (indigenous ethnic Malay) eligibility criteria before their tenders will be considered.

It is reported that while price considerations are important in concluding a government contract, the "value for money" concept includes non-price factors and broader policy considerations, such as accelerating economic growth through procurement, maximising the use of local materials and resources, promoting local freight and insurance, transferring technology, and providing incentives for indigenous entrepreneurs (Bumiputera). Bumiputera suppliers benefit from a preference margin of 2.5% to 10%, inversely proportional to the contract value, for goods and services contracts valued between MYR 100,000 (approx. USD 23,500) and MYR 15 million (approx. USD 3.5 million), with no preferences for contracts above MYR 15 million. For locally made goods by Bumiputera manufacturers, the preference margin is 10% for contracts below MYR 10 million (approx. USD 2.3 million), up to 5% for contracts between MYR 10 million and MYR 100 million, and 3% for contracts above MYR 100 million. This practice has persisted since 1995. Additionally, it is reported that all individuals, companies, or corporate bodies intending to participate in government procurement of works, supplies, and services must be approved by and registered with the Ministry of Finance. Procurement often involves middlemen rather than direct dealings with the governmental entity or is negotiated rather than tendered.