Multidimensional solution to protect digital content copyright

Watching movies, listening to music or watching sports for free online seems harmless, but it not only causes great economic damage but also poses potential cybersecurity risks.

Copyright infringement in the digital environment is a challenge in copyright protection in countries. In the photo: The movie Bo Gia is being spread on illegal websites. (Photo: QUYNH TRANG)

In order to combat digital content copyright infringement, recently, content production and distribution units in Vietnam and many international experts have issued warnings and recommended synchronous solutions from law, technology to user awareness.

At the workshop "Strengthening international cooperation in protecting digital content copyright" recently held in Hanoi, Mr. Matthew Cheetham, representative of the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA), said that up to 56% of Vietnamese users participating in the survey admitted to having accessed unlicensed content in the past 12 months.

Violations are very diverse, from using devices such as Android boxes to watch illegally, accessing unlicensed websites to sharing illegal links via social networks and messages. Many people simply think that "watching for free" does not cause any harm, but the reality is very different.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Han, General Director of Thu Do Multimedia Company, it is estimated that in 2022, Vietnam will lose about 350 million dollars due to copyright infringement. Worldwide, the three fields of music , cinema and television alone will lose about 65 billion dollars due to this problem in 2023.

Mr. Sean Godfrey, Head of Legal and Enforcement for the Asia- Pacific region of the Premier League, commented that Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest number of visits to copyright-infringing websites in the region.

However, Vietnam also reacted quickly when thousands of violating websites were tracked and blocked. This expert warned that pirated websites not only violate copyright but also contain malware, gambling advertisements, information-stealing software and the risk of users having their personal data, bank accounts, and social networks stolen. Although many legitimate content distributors provide exclusive programs at a cost suitable for the majority of income, pirated viewing is still common, and users easily share infringing links without fully understanding the consequences.

At the conference, Mr. Matthew Cheetham gave an example that since 2020, the Indonesian government and authorities have actively blocked illegal websites (site blocking), resulting in a sharp decrease in visits to illegal sites, and users gradually switching to legal platforms. Another survey by CAP showed that in Vietnam, 53% of users said they would stop accessing if illegal sites were blocked.

This is proof that website blocking is effective in controlling user behavior. However, hackers can still bypass blocking in many ways, such as buying official accounts, then recording content using devices or via screen connection ports. That is why content encryption technology needs to be increasingly invested in.

A prominent solution introduced at the conference was the Sigma Multi-DRM and SAO (Sigma Active Observer) system developed by Thu Do Multimedia. This system uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and prevent illegal access, bypass VPN or attack the content protection layer. Many major partners in the pay TV industry such as TV360, FPT Play, VTVcab ON... have successfully applied Sigma Multi-DRM and recorded outstanding effectiveness in preventing digital content copyright infringement.

However, according to experts, to solve the problem at its root, it is not only necessary to apply technology but also to combine perfecting the legal framework and changing user habits.

According to lawyer Le Quang Vinh, representative of Bross & Associates Law Firm, Vietnam is making efforts to build a legal system that is equivalent to international standards. It is necessary to develop regulations that allow the collection of electronic evidence and evidence from cross-border transactions - which is very important when handling cases that occur on the internet.

He also proposed joining international mutual legal assistance agreements and having a judicial delegation policy to exchange evidence more effectively with other countries. From the perspective of a content producer, Mr. Nguyen Vu Hoang, representative of VTVGo, affirmed that effective copyright protection requires close coordination between technology, law and state management agencies to form a "closed circle".

A good sign is that users are increasingly aware of the harmful effects of using pirated content. According to another survey by CAP, 71% of Vietnamese people are willing to pay if pirated services are removed. The fight against pirated content is still thorny, but positive signals from users, the determination of authorities and advanced technological solutions are opening up a way to build a sustainable copyright protection ecosystem.

HAI LAM

Source: https://nhandan.vn/multi-dimensional-protection-of-content-number-post899883.html