Prominent are acts involving films, music, television programs, and video games, with increasingly large scale and sophisticated methods. Many illegal movie distribution websites host servers abroad and continuously change domain names to avoid legal sanctions. Numerous musical works are illegally copied, edited, and remixed, then spread rapidly across digital platforms. Television programs are broken down into short clips to attract views, thereby generating illicit revenue from advertising. In the video game sector, software cracking, illegal account trading, and data theft remain widespread, causing significant losses to publishers and distorting the competitive environment.
According to statistics from authorities, Vietnam currently ranks among countries with a high rate of digital content copyright infringement in the region. Beyond economic losses, more dangerously, this situation diminishes creative motivation, erodes investor confidence, and creates an unfair competitive environment. If violations continue unchecked, the creative economy will struggle to develop healthily, and the ambition to build a cultural industry as a leading economic sector will be difficult to achieve.
Worryingly, accessing and using pirated products for free is gradually being seen as a normal habit among a segment of users. The line between right and wrong is blurred, and standards of business ethics and respect for the law are being eroded over time. Therefore, protecting intellectual property rights today is both a legal requirement and a demand of behavioral culture and social responsibility in the digital age.
On May 5, 2026, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 38/CD-TTg, requiring the decisive implementation of measures to combat, prevent, and handle acts of infringement. Accordingly, authorities are required to concentrate resources and launch a nationwide campaign from May 7 to May 30, 2026, to strictly handle violations with the spirit of “no forbidden zones, no exceptions.” The dispatch has received broad public consensus. Many opinions hold that addressing violations is an urgent short-term solution, but more importantly, a strong enough “shield” must be built to prevent violations at the root. To achieve this, the legal system needs to be further improved to be synchronized, rigorous, and keep pace with the development of digital technology, especially regulations concerning the responsibilities of digital platforms and intermediary service providers. Simultaneously, the application of technology in detecting, monitoring, and handling violations should be promoted, from artificial intelligence to digital content identification tools, to enhance management effectiveness in cyberspace.
The core factor remains user awareness. Combating copyright infringement cannot rely solely on authorities or punitive measures; this “battle” must begin with a change in the consumption behavior of each individual. When users are willing to pay for legal products and actively say no to infringing content, the market will adjust itself towards greater transparency and sustainability. A copyright-respecting society is also a society that values creative labor and upholds the value of intellectual capital.
On the business side, proactiveness remains a link that needs to be strengthened. In practice, many entities are still confused by infringing acts, and technical solutions, international cooperation mechanisms, or the development of a legal content distribution ecosystem have not been effectively utilized. Experience from many countries shows that businesses are not only victims but must also become pioneers in detecting, preventing, and protecting their own rights. When creative rights are properly respected and protected, we can build a solid foundation to develop the cultural industry, attract high-quality investment, and affirm the nation’s position and competitiveness in the global digital economy flow.
Vietnam
Ha Long Bay
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