RM50,000 Finas License For Content Creators Creates Uproar
You may want to think twice before uploading that Insta-story about a new dish you just made or a TikTok video challenge or you may get into trouble for creating content without a license.
If you’re Malaysian that is.
In a recent move made by Malaysia’s National Film Development Corporation, FINAS, all content creators intending to upload videos need to apply for a licence.
“Film producers must apply for Film Production License and Film Shooting Certificate (SPP) regardless of whether they are mainstream media agencies or personal media which produce films on social media platforms or traditional channels,” Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said on July 23, 2020.
According to a report by the Malay Mail, FINAS must be informed 7 days prior to any filming and the creators are to obtain a licence that costs a whopping RM50 000.
That is about 16,250 in Singapore dollars, for a license to literally upload any video recorded regardless of its purpose.
Now, the question is, why should one pay that ridiculous amount to obtain a license to upload any form of video on social media networks? And does that mean schools will have to apply for the licence for students who have to upload videos as part of their coursework?
The keyword used by Minister Saifuddin was “personal media” and that seems to imply everyone who takes videos for fun to share with their friends on social media.
Netizens and public figures were understandably outraged by what they deem as a money-making scheme.
Syed Saddiq, the minister championed as the voice of youths and change in Malaysia mentioned in a passionate speech that the act will kill content creators, the bulk of which comes from the youths and Millennials in Malaysia.
Dato’ Afdlin Shauki also gave his two cents in an Instagram post where he questions the need for such an act in a pandemic where people are trying to keep themselves sane by creating content for fun.
Twitter netizens had no holds barred.
This particular user Shawn Tan has the right idea.
But perhaps the most interesting one would be this.
Luahan Wartawan: What a way to enrage the youth of your country when most of them aren’t really happy with how things are going on down there.
Just imagine, you’re a criminal for uploading a video of lunch.
You’re unhappy with how a certain news channel portrayed the mistreatment of your foreign workforce, take it up with them.
But since you tried and got shot down, you decide to bully the rest of the content creators just because you have the power.
Quoting my social media marketing lecturer, a veteran in the advertising industry,
“You are all digital citizens. With social media, the world is your oyster. You have the power to create anything you want and with the right marketing, even you can be the next influencers.”
The truth is traditional media has lost out to social media. Instead of censoring, join the game. Learn how to master social media and the world is your oyster.
