Vietnam cracks down on digital copyright violations in entertainment industry

Authorities have filed charges against executives linked to prominent entertainment brands including BH Media, Lululola, 1900 Group, May Saigon and Giong Ca De Doi, all well known for music live streams and YouTube content.

A report broadcast on Vietnam Television’s VTV1 channel last Saturday said investigators found that BH Media, whose legal representative is Nguyen Hai Binh, had signed contracts with music venues and event organizers to record live performances.

Authorities allege the company then edited, copied, and uploaded musical works to YouTube channels without obtaining permission from authors or copyright holders.

Binh admitted to investigators: “We have not asked for permission or paid royalties, which violated the Intellectual Property Law.

“The community should understand the law and seek authorization before using intellectual property,” Binh said.

Diep Van Lap, known professionally as singer Quang Lap and founder of Giong Ca De Doi Center, acknowledged similar violations.

His center organized performances, recorded them, and then partnered with BH Media to upload the content.

“I was wrong. I will try not to let this happen again and will fix the consequences,” Lap said.

May Saigon directors Vo Hoang Viet and Nguyen Trung Truong Huy also admitted to recording, editing, and copying the performances into multiple music products before distributing them online through BH Media, despite only having permission to stage live shows.

Huy said he was “unclear” about copyright rules when entering the industry, adding that the case serves as an expensive lesson for others.

VTV reported that investigators initially estimated BH Media and related parties earned around VND6 billion (US$228,000) from the activities.

Revenue was allegedly shared among partners according to prior agreements, with some receiving billions of Vietnamese dong. [VND1 billion = $37,900]

Lieutenant Colonel Le Thanh Quan from the Ministry of Public Security’s anti-corruption and economic crimes investigation department said authorities would continue pursuing copyright and intellectual property violations aggressively.

“There will be no exceptions in tackling copyright crimes in the digital era,” he said.

The department called on organizations and individuals involved in copyright and intellectual property violations to voluntarily stop unlawful activities, declare damages, and cooperate with authorities in order to receive leniency under Vietnamese law.