The digital environment presents many challenges for copyright protection.

On June 17th, the international conference on 'Copyright Enforcement in the Digital Environment' opened in Hanoi. Taking place over five days, from June 17th to 21st, the conference is organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (represented by the Copyright Office) in collaboration with the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

W-hoi thao quoc te.jpg
The international conference on 'Copyright Enforcement in the Digital Environment' was attended by delegates and experts from 15 countries. Photo: Van Anh

In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Choi Youngsam, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of South Korea to Vietnam, expressed his belief that the conference was an opportunity for policymakers and experts from 15 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East to update useful information; to learn from the experiences of other countries on effective copyright enforcement. At the same time, it was also an opportunity for delegates to discuss different methods to strengthen international cooperation in addressing the situations and challenges in today's rapidly changing digital environment.

According to Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong, in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the rapid development of digital technology has created enormous new spaces, opening up many opportunities and prospects for long-term and sustainable economic development.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution also creates environments where people can unleash their creativity, including in digital technology . “The space is wider, but it is also posing many challenges. Among them, enforcing copyright in the digital space is an issue we must pay attention to,” Mr. Ho An Phong emphasized.

W-enforcement of copyright in digital environment 1 1.jpg
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong said the conference is a good opportunity to update the situation of copyright enforcement, especially in the digital environment of each country and region. Photo: Organizing Committee

Deputy Minister Ho An Phong also stated that the development of the cultural industry is currently receiving great attention in Vietnam and is identified as one of the key areas playing an important role in the country's socio-economic development.

"We want to promote the cultural industry to develop the economy. Enforcing copyright in the digital environment is one of the issues that needs attention to promote the cultural industry in the coming time," a representative from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism added.

W-enforcement of copyright on digital environment 3 1.jpg
Xavier Vermandele, Senior Legal Advisor, WIPO's Intellectual Property Respect Division, speaks at the conference. Photo: Organizing Committee.

Echoing this sentiment, Xavier Vermandele, Senior Legal Advisor, WIPO's Intellectual Property Respect Division, affirmed: Copyright enforcement is a crucial component in promoting innovation, creativity, and economic development. This is especially important in the digital age, where the copying and dissemination of creative works is easy, posing significant challenges to copyright protection.

“ Effective copyright enforcement not only protects the rights of creators but also fosters a favorable environment for investment in creative activities across industries. It provides legal certainty for businesses, which is essential for attracting investment and promoting growth in all sectors. Furthermore, it contributes to the overall development of a nation by creating job opportunities and boosting economic activity,” emphasized Xavier Vermandele.

However, WIPO representatives also pointed out that copyright enforcement, and more broadly the culture of respecting copyright, especially in the digital environment, faces many challenges. The global nature of the Internet and the rapid progress of digital technology make copyright enforcement more difficult, leading to widespread copyright infringement, diminishing the value of creative works and hindering innovation.

Strengthening the capacity of copyright enforcement agencies and expanding international cooperation.

According to the Copyright Office under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in the field of copyright, WIPO treaties such as the Copyright Treaty, the Treaty on Performances and Phonograms, the Beijing Treaty on the Protection of Audiovisual Performances, etc., have formed a system of important legal tools to address copyright issues in the digital environment.

In recent years, along with gradually perfecting the legal framework on copyright and focusing on propaganda to raise awareness and sense of compliance with copyright laws, Vietnam has proactively participated in multilateral and bilateral international treaties on copyright and related rights, especially multilateral international treaties on copyright and related rights managed by WIPO.

business-content-number-4-1.jpg
According to the Copyright Office, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the legal corridor on copyright in Vietnam has been gradually improved. Illustration photo: MQ

To date, Vietnam has ratified seven international treaties on copyright and related rights, including: the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonographic Records against Unauthorized Reproduction of Phonographic Records; the Brussels Convention relating to the Distribution of Television Programs via Satellite; the Rome Convention for the Protection of the Rights of Performers, Producers of Phonographic Records and Broadcasters; the TRIPs Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property; the World Intellectual Property Organization's Copyright Treaty (WCT); and the World Intellectual Property Organization's Treaty on Performances and Phonographic Recordings (WPPT)...

However, according to Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong, in order to effectively utilize the opportunities arising from joining international copyright treaties and to meet domestic needs, Vietnam must gradually improve the capacity of copyright management and enforcement agencies, especially in the digital environment.

From WIPO's perspective, Xavier Vermandele argued that, in addition to enhancing the capacity of copyright management and enforcement agencies, strengthening cooperation at the national and international levels, between law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders, including the private sector as intermediaries, plays a crucial role in addressing copyright enforcement issues and challenges, especially in the digital environment.

With 34 topics and 50 presentations from international and Vietnamese experts in the field of copyright, the international conference on 'Copyright Enforcement in the Digital Environment' focused on discussing many issues: The value of copyright and the contribution of creative industries to the economy; Common methods of online copyright infringement; Threats related to the use of copyrighted content; Methods for resolving online copyright infringement...