Malaysia will set up a special court to handle complaints on infringement of copyright and trademark, officials said today in a move triggered by trade talks with the United States.

The United States said earlier this year that Malaysia had to do "a lot more" to battle piracy and protect intellectual property right ahead of negotiations for an free-trade agreement due to begin next month.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shafie Apdal said the move to set up the intellectual property rights (IPR) court next year was in line with efforts to eradicate piracy and counterfeiting activities in Malaysia.

He said the government would continue to revamp laws concerning infringements of copyright and trademark and urged prosecutors to keep abreast of changes in the law.

"Technological advances especially those associated with digital information systems and the Internet have already altered the profile and modus operandi of the crime," Shafie was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

Slow pace

Despite periodic busts on peddlers of pirated discs, illegal copies are freely available in Malaysia, even in major shopping malls, and prosecution of offenders moves at a slow pace.

Washington has set an ambitious timetable for the FTA to be signed, saying it hopes to finish negotiations by year's end.

The Bush administration then has to pass the deal through the US Congress before July 1, 2007, when its special authority to present agreements for a simple "yes or no" vote expires.