The digital environment presents many challenges for copyright protection.

On June 17, the international conference on 'Copyright Enforcement in the Digital Environment' opened in Hanoi. Taking place for 5 days from June 17 to June 21, the conference was organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam (represented by the Copyright Office) in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea and the World Intellectual Property Organization - WIPO.

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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 speech, Mr. ChoiYoungsam, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Vietnam, believed that the conference was an opportunity for policy makers and experts from 15 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East to update useful information; consult and learn from other countries' experiences in effectively enforcing copyright. At the same time, this was also an opportunity for delegates to discuss different methods to strengthen and consolidate international cooperation to deal with situations and challenges in today's strong digital transformation environment.

According to Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong, in the context of the 4.0 industrial revolution, the rapid development of digital technology has created huge new spaces, opening up many opportunities and prospects for long-term and sustainable economic development.

The 4.0 revolution also creates environments for people to unleash their creativity, including digital technology innovations. “The space is more open, but it is also posing many challenges. In particular, enforcing copyright in digital space is an issue we must pay attention to,” Mr. Ho An Phong emphasized.

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Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong said that 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 said that currently, the development of cultural industry is receiving great attention from Vietnam and is identified as one of the fields playing an important role in the country's socio-economic development.

“We want to promote the cultural industry to develop the economy. Copyright enforcement in the digital environment is one of the issues that need attention to promote the cultural industry in the coming time,” added a representative of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

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Mr. Xavier Vermandele, Senior Legal Adviser, WIPO Intellectual Property Rights Division, discussed at the conference. Photo: Organizing Committee

Sharing the same view, Mr. Xavier Vermandele, Senior Legal Adviser, Intellectual Property Rights Division, WIPO, affirmed: Copyright enforcement is an important component in promoting innovation, creativity and economic development. This is especially important in the digital age, when the ease of copying and dissemination of creative works poses significant challenges to copyright protection.

“ Effective copyright enforcement not only protects the rights of creators but also promotes a conducive environment for investment in creative 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 country by creating employment opportunities and stimulating economic activities,” Mr. Xavier Vermandele emphasized.

However, the WIPO representative also pointed out that copyright enforcement and, more broadly, a culture of copyright respect, especially in the digital environment, are facing many challenges. The global nature of the Internet and the rapid advancement of digital technology make copyright enforcement more difficult, leading to widespread copyright infringement, undermining 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 Performances and Phonograms Treaty, the Beijing Treaty for the Protection of Audiovisual Performances... have formed a system of important legal tools to resolve copyright issues in the digital environment.

In recent years, along with gradually perfecting the legal framework on copyright, 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.

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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

Up to now, Vietnam has participated in 7 international treaties on copyright and related rights such as: Geneva Convention for the protection of producers of phonograms against unauthorized duplication of their phonograms; Brussels Convention relating to the distribution of television programme-carrying signals by satellite; Rome Convention for the protection of the rights of performers, producers of phonograms and broadcasting organizations; TRIPs Agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights; World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty (WCT Treaty); World Intellectual Property Organization Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT Treaty)...

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

From WIPO's perspective, Mr. Xavier Vermandele said that, in addition to improving 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 an important role in addressing issues and challenges in copyright enforcement, especially copyright enforcement 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 pirated content; Methods to resolve online copyright infringement...