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Vietnam's Copyright Office has mandated a halt to the use of pirated software across the country as part of a comprehensive intellectual property crackdown. This initiative, which demands authorities handle at least 20% more violation cases than in May 2025, is set to run through May 30. The order affects businesses and individuals involved in computer software, film, music, publishing, journalism, broadcasting, and video games, requiring them to ensure compliance with copyright regulations.

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This directive follows Official Dispatch No. 38, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung, directing ministries and local authorities to target piracy, particularly focusing on high-traffic infringing websites in various media sectors. According to Vietnam's Intellectual Property Law, computer programs are protected as literary works, and legal users may only make one backup copy. The Ministry of Public Security will spearhead efforts to investigate and prosecute serious infringements, with police tasked to dismantle illicit websites distributing pirated content.

The Ministry of National Defense will coordinate with police to intercept border violations, while the Supreme People's Procuracy and Supreme People's Court expedite intellectual property cases. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will conduct inspections and enforce compliance, referring serious violations for further action. This campaign is part of a larger enforcement strategy that follows the amended Intellectual Property Law, empowering rights holders to demand removal of infringing content from digital platforms.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · VN Express · 11 May 2026

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

So going to Vietnam with some "grey" software or media on your device can be risky.

I await Thailand's decision to follow suit ...

Easily solved. Convert to Linux and there's free software for most everything.

The EU is doing it to divorce themselves from US tech.