Charmayne heads both the Intellectual Property (IP) practice and the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) practice. As a leading figure in IP and TMT legal advisory and compliance, Charmayne has extensive experience in both spaces and has worked with regulators, public institutions and companies of all sizes in shaping the future of IP and TMT.
Charmayne’s expertise includes managing the registration of and general advisory and drafting work relating to the classic forms of IP rights (trade mark, copyright, industrial design rights and patents). She also regularly deals with regulators and advises clients who provide technology and telecommunications services such as satellite, internet and on-demand content services on complex and novel regulatory compliance and licensing matters.
She is also the Malaysian member of the Global Leaders Forum (TMT practice) and a member of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) (for IP and TMT).
Key Practice Areas
- Technology, Media and Telecommunications
- Intellectual Property
- Advised various multinational technology companies on licensing requirements and compliance with telecommunications laws and other relevant laws in respect of providing their data centre and internet services in Malaysia, including advice on a broad range of issues including procurement, import, leasing and installation of telecommunications infrastructure and equipment, industry-specific requirements, data protection/privacy issues and rights of access by enforcement bodies and governmental bodies.
- Advised one of Malaysia’s first subscription-based music, podcast and Video-on-Demand (VOD) operators in respect of its entry into the Malaysian market, including on issues pertaining to telecommunications licensing and content regulation.
- Advised various companies on the laws concerning the installation and use of SIMs/chips in vehicles and other IoT devices
- Assisted a party involved in the provision of digital terrestrial television in Malaysia as, an initiative of the MCMC.
- Advised one of the world’s largest multinational technology companies specialising in internet related services and products and the use of drones, i.e. unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
- Advised on the supply of security operations centre (SOC) services by a company specialising in managed cybersecurity services and securing the integrity of IT assets; and prepared template agreements for the client’s business.
- Advised a major listed company in Malaysia on the requirements concerning media and IP rights in film soundtracks to be used in conjunction with its media event. This included reviewing the relevant licence agreements and related documents with the licensing bodies and film studios.
- Advised both the government and industry as a member of a national task force and various other committees.
- Advised on and drafted a wide variety of commercial contracts used in the IT industry (e.g. outsourcing, licensing, development, systems integration, distribution, service levels and end user licence agreements).
- Acted for an Indonesian bank in reviewing, drafting, advising and conducting negotiations in relation to a system licence and services agreement with a Labuan incorporated IT service provider. This complex transaction involved the (a) outsourcing of the bank’s data centre, disaster recovery facility and management services; (b) licence and implementation of a new system to process the bank’s daily banking transactions; and (c) provision of maintenance services of the licensed system in Indonesia.
- Acted for a prominent Islamic insurance operator in Malaysia in reviewing, drafting and advising in relation to an IT infrastructure operations management services agreement with a leading IT service provider. This transaction involved the outsourcing of the management of the insurance operator’s IT systems.
- Advised various companies on the regulatory framework on online gaming and contest promotion.
- Advised on the laws and regulations concerning the supply of telecommunications facilities and the operation, maintenance and commercialisation thereof; preparation of the related agreements.
- Advised major pharmaceutical companies on their data exclusivity rights as well as their strategy concerning the government’s exercise of its rights under patent law.
- Acts as the agent and manages the trademark portfolio for clients across various industries. Notably, these industries include technology and new media, manufacturing, food and beverage, manufacturing, etc.
- Acts as the agent and manages the patent portfolio for clients across various industries. Notably, these industries include pharmaceutical, oil & gas, food & beverage, etc.
- Acts as a domain name mediator for domain name registration disputes.
- Provides general advisory work relating to the classic forms of IP rights: trade mark, copyright, industrial design rights and patents. Her experience involves advising on and drafting of IP-related contracts (e.g. licensing, distributorships and technology transfers).
- Regularly advises on labelling and advertising claims covering various industries e.g. food & beverage, cosmetics, electrical and telecommunications products and product recall.
- Advised one of Malaysia’s first subscription based music, podcast and video-on-Demand (VOD) operators in respect of its entry into the Malaysian market, including on issues pertaining to copyright licensing, content requirements and consumer protection; drafting and reviewing their various policies and terms and conditions.
- Advised a leading international subscription video-on-demand service provider on copyright, production and licensing of musical works; and compensation of music composers.
- Advised various companies including internet access service providers, domain name registrars and web-hosting companies on content requirements and take-down provisions under Malaysian laws vis-à-vis copyright infringing and unlawful content.
Qualifications:
- Trade Mark Agent
- Design Agent
- Patent Agent
- Advocate and Solicitor, High Court of Malaya (1987)
- Certificate of Legal Practice, Malaysia (1986)
- LL.B (Hons) University College London (1985)
Professional Affiliations:
- Member, Center for international Legal Studies (CILS) Associate Professional
- Member, Congress of the CILS Fellows
- Member, Malaysian Intellectual Property Association
- Member, Licensing Executives Society Malaysia
- Member, International Trademark Association (INTA)
- Member, Asian Patent Attorneys Association
- Member, The Association of European Trade Mark Owners (MARQUES)
- Malaysian member, Global Leaders Forum (TMT practice)
- Member, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) (for IP and TMT)
- Listed in the Managing IP’s Top 250 Women in IP 2021
- Ranked as a "Leading Individual" for Intellectual Property in Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018 – 2021
- Listed as a "Leading Individual" for TMT in Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2018 – 2021
- Ranked in Band 2 for Intellectual Property in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021
- Ranked in Band 2 for TMT in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021
- Listed as "WIPR's Influential Women in IP 2020" by World IP Review
- Listed in Asia Business Law Journal 2020 as one of 'Malaysia Top 100 Lawyers - The A List'
- Named as a "Leading Lawyer" for IP by asialaw Profiles since 2009
- Listed as a "Leading Individual" for IT and Telecommunications by Legal 500 Asia Pacific since 2008
- Ranked for IP in Chambers Asia-Pacific since 2009
- Listed as an expert by Who's Who Legal for Data: Information Technology, Data: Telecoms & Media, and Patents.
- Recognised as an IP Star by Managing IP’s for 2016 and 2017.
- “Charmayne Ong is respected in the market for her non-contentious IP expertise. Her broad practice encompasses trade mark registration and advisory work on patents, data privacy and copyright issues.” - Chambers Asia-Pacific
- “Respected in the market for her non-contentious IP expertise” - Chambers Asia-Pacific
- "Charmayne Ong heads the department and is commended for her IP advisory work, including corporate and transactional-related matters and managing trade mark portfolios. She is also active on patent prosecution and is praised by an interviewee for her"dedication and professionalism in communicating with clients and providing advice." - Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019
- "Charmayne Ong leads the firm's TMT practice and is well versed in data privacy, e-commerce, telecoms and IT regulations. In the context of international mandates, interviewees characterise her as "quite calm, which is helpful when co-ordinating multi-jurisdictional projects." - Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019