Vietnam: Enthroning the Rights of Copyright Holders in Dealing with Copyright Infringement Cases

COVID-19 chaos has changed the entertainment industry a lot. Cinemas, theaters, live music cafes, amusement parks or something came to a standstill. However, streaming platforms and other online entertainment activities have been enthroned in the face of the coronavirus.

Streaming activity has changed a lot since the early onset of the pandemic. In the wake of social distancing in Vietnam, there are increasing numbers of copyright, related rights violations in printed publications, electronic publications on websites, social networks, e-commerce sites, and mobile phone applications.

In order to deal with rampant copyright infringement, the Publicity and Pressure Distribution Authority of the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communication announced on June 9, 2021 (“authority“) has issued Official Letter No. 614 / CXBIPH – TTPC, which guides publishers and distributors of publications in Vietnam to deal with copyright infringement.

In summary, the authority gives the following guidelines:

1. Publishers and distributors of publications examine and take measures to combat and protect copyright or related rights in their publications in accordance with the statutory provisions.

2. If violations are found, publishers and distributors of publications collect information and send it (to the following address):

a) In the event of violations of copyright or related rights in printed and electronic publications: collect information, provide information in writing (in the prescribed tabular form) and send it to the Publication, Printing and Distribution Authority (No. 10, Duong Thanh Street, Cua Dong Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi) for compilation and forwarding to the competent authorities, who coordinate and process the cases in accordance with the relevant regulations.

b) For violations on e-commerce sites: Collect, provide and send information to the Vietnam E-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (at 25 Ngo Quyen Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi).

With the agency’s encouragement and guidance above, I’m not far from believing that more cases will be reported anytime soon. The pandemic is not over yet and there is no certainty when we will return to normal.

With the agency’s encouragement and guidance above, I’m not far from believing that more cases will be reported anytime soon. The pandemic is not over yet and there is no certainty when we will return to normal.