The digital revolution in the television industry is currently facing unprecedented challenges in terms of content security and copyright protection. These difficulties necessitate the emergence of new solutions to ensure that content remains unaffected by a variety of copyright infringement-related risks.
On September 26th, under the theme ‘Addressing Copyright Protection Issues in the Music, Film, and Digital Television Industry,’ the Vietnam Digital Communications Association (VDCA) collaborated with Hanoi Multimedia to organize an event aimed at finding innovative solutions to these challenges.
Following the seminar, the online news portal cand.com also published an article:
The issue of protecting content copyrights in the context of digital transformation is facing numerous challenges. Alongside the convenience for users in consuming entertainment content, the digital revolution is also bringing unprecedented challenges in terms of content security and copyright protection, demanding the need for multifaceted solutions to safeguard digital content from a range of copyright infringement risks.
At a discussion on solving the puzzle of content copyright protection in the digital environment, organized by the Vietnam Digital Communications Association and the Digital Content Creativity Alliance in Hanoi on September 26, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Han, General Director of Thudo Multimedia, stated that Vietnam currently has about 50 million OTT users. Despite implementing measures such as domain blocking and deploying Digital Rights Management (DRM) solutions to prevent unauthorized access and distribution, Vietnam still lacks comprehensive measures and requires multifaceted solutions. Particularly, DRM has vulnerabilities that allow exploiting packet forgery to deceive License Servers and bypass authentication for distributing content to untrusted accounts.
Safeguarding Digital Content Copyrights: The Need for Multifaceted Solutions 2
Protecting digital content copyrights: The need for multifaceted solutions Strong measures are necessary to address content copyright violations in the digital environment. (Illustration)
Furthermore, OTT providers and online content distributors face other risks, such as cross-border violations using VPNs, violations across multiple platforms (mobile, set-top boxes, web), and violations through online re-streaming. Copyright violators are willing to use cameras to directly record content and then redistribute it on different platforms or connect HDMI devices to capture content and distribute it on the internet.
In Vietnam alone, copyright infringements caused losses of $348 million in 2022. Notably, 80% of these infringements occurred on digital platforms, with the most violated content categories being television programs (49.4%), movies (17.1%), music (16%), books (11.2%), and software (6.2%).
According to statistics from the Digital Content Copyright Center, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, Ministry of Information and Communications, copyright violations in Vietnam are becoming increasingly complex. Numerous websites violate copyrights by broadcasting soccer matches and movies. According to SimilarWeb data, there are currently about 70 pirate soccer websites with over 1.5 billion views in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, SimilarWeb data also indicates that there are more than 200 pirate movie websites attracting about 120 million views per month, with the top 10 sites receiving over 66 million monthly views. Notably, some pirate websites have recently transitioned to Japanese Anime comics.
Lawyer Pham Thanh Thuy, in charge of anti-copyright infringement at K+ Digital Television, emphasized that copyright infringement of digital content is rampant on the internet. For example, when a match is broadcast on K+ and its partner distributors, it is also broadcast on many pirate websites and apps. Referring to data from Media Partners Asia, Lawyer Pham Thanh Thuy stated that Vietnam ranks third in the region in terms of copyright infringement, with 15.5 million people regularly accessing pirate websites. Copyright violations on digital platforms are currently the predominant form of infringement.
Leveraging Technology Solutions for Protecting Digital Content Copyrights
According to Mr. Pham Hoang Hai, Director of the Digital Content Copyright Center at the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, Ministry of Information and Communications, applying technical measures, specifically blocking access to copyright-infringing websites, has been effective in changing user habits. However, these blocking measures still face several challenges, such as inconsistency between Internet Service Providers (ISPs) regarding the scope and duration of blocking. Some ISPs block immediately, while others wait for three or more working days. Additionally, the system lacks flexibility to deal with new domain names that emerge after blocking.
Based on the analysis of the difficulties in applying legal measures, including administrative, civil, and criminal procedures, to combat copyright infringement in the digital environment, Lawyer Pham Thanh Thuy proposed that Vietnam consider adopting a proactive blocking model like that of the UK and some other countries. Under this model, pirate websites change their domain names and IP addresses after the initial blocking, and ISPs proactively block new domain names and IP addresses upon receiving notifications from copyright owners or authorized government agencies without the need for repeated administrative procedures.
Furthermore, one of the technology solutions evaluated by experts as a comprehensive “shield” for protecting digital content copyrights is the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This solution is considered a groundbreaking innovation that surpasses the limitations of traditional methods, providing a flexible and proactive defense mechanism for detecting and reporting copyright infringement risks. This solution has already been implemented by major digital content creation companies worldwide, such as YouTube.
The issue of content copyright protection, especially in the current context of digital transformation, is facing many challenges. Meanwhile, the handling of violations has some shortcomings, and preventive measures are not consistent.
Faced with the painful problems of digital copyright infringement, on September 26, 2023, in Hanoi, Vietnam Digital Content Creation Alliance (DCCA) coordinated with Thu Do Multimedia to organize the seminar “Solving the problem of copyright protection for the music–film industry – digital television”.
Immediately attracting the attention of the public as well as reputable media agencies, after the discussion, the electronic newspaper vir.com.vn published an article:
The Digital Content Creation Alliance Vietnam collaborated with Thu Do Multimedia to organize a seminar to discuss digital content protection solutions for music, films, and TV on September 26.
The event focused on discussions on the reality of digital content piracy in Vietnam and proposed solutions to prevent copyright infringement.
In the dynamic landscape of digital content delivery, the rapid growth of over-the-top (OTT) platforms and online film operators has ushered in a new era of entertainment consumption. The convenience of accessing movies, TV shows, and live events across devices has transformed the way audiences engage with content.
However, this digital revolution has also given rise to unprecedented challenges in terms of content security and protection, necessitating innovative solutions to safeguard against an array of threats.
OTT broadcasters like VTVCab ON and FPT Play, and online film operators such as Netflix, Hulu, and Hotstar have emerged as key players in this digital ecosystem. As they cater to the insatiable demand for content, ensuring the integrity and exclusivity of their offerings has become a paramount concern.
While digital rights management (DRM) solutions like Widevine, FairPlay, and PlayReady have been deployed to mitigate unauthorized access and distribution, a multidimensional approach is required to tackle the diverse threats that have emerged.
The challenges faced by content providers are not confined solely to DRM vulnerabilities. Beyond these, OTT broadcasters and online film and music operators encounter a spectrum of risks that demand holistic solutions.
One pressing issue is the exploitation of virtual private networks to sidestep geographic restrictions, enabling the unauthorized access and distribution of content. Additionally, adversaries resort to packet forgery to deceive authorization servers, undermining the very essence of secure content delivery.
According to Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, deputy head of the Cinema Department, the main issue the department must resolve is drawing the line between violating the law and not.
“Films that violate the rules are not allowed to be distributed, or they need to have infringing content removed, affecting the artists’ image and the producers’ investment,” she added.
Le Quang Vinh, an intellectual property (IP) lawyer, said that IP is not just a problem in Vietnam, the whole world is grappling with it.
“When we look at the issue of copyright infringement broadly, it is related to criminal, civil, administrative, and even international law. Vietnam has made progress in its efforts, and I believe it will change the situation,” he stated.
He elaborated that the Prime Minister issued a national strategy on IP in 2019. Moreover, Decree No.17/2023/ND-CP has been signed, implementing the IP Law that was then legislated through Article 198b to assign responsibility to intermediary service providers. This is an effective mechanism with very new rules that solve the problem for K+ and others.
In response to these multifaceted threats, Thu Do Multimedia shared its insights on the power of Sigma Multi-DRM with AI technology, which aids media providers in protecting their content on the Internet.
Sigma Multi-DRM introduces a revolutionary safeguard – the Sigma Active Observer (SAO). This innovative solution transcends the limitations of traditional DRM, offering a proactive and adaptable defense mechanism.
Driven by the innovative SAO, Sigma Multi-DRM marks a paradigm shift in content security. By offering a multifaceted, AI-driven solution that comprehensively safeguards against a spectrum of threats, OTT broadcasters and online film operators can usher in a new era of secure content distribution.
SAO is not a mere security layer; it’s an active, intelligent guardian that enables content providers to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and offers audiences a seamless, secure, and immersive entertainment experience.
Besides the advantages, the digital revolution in the television sector has brought unprecedented challenges in security and copyright protection of content, requiring the creation of new solutions to protect content from a series of copyright infringement risks…
September 26, with the theme “Solving the problem of copyright protection for the music – cinema – digital television industry”, co-organized by the Vietnam Digital Media Association (VDCA) in collaboration with Thu Do Multimedia to find new solutions to this “hot potato” problems.
Sharing after the conference, the electronic newspaper theleader.vn also had an article with the same opinion:
In 2022 alone, Vietnam’s film, music, and television industry suffered losses of approximately 7,000 billion VND ($348 million USD) due to copyright violations, adversely affecting prominent digital content enterprises such as K+, TV360, and FPT Play.
Amidst the dynamic landscape of digital content distribution, the rapid growth of Over-The-Top (OTT) television platforms and online film distributors has ushered in a new era of content consumption. The convenience of accessing movies, TV shows, and live music events on various devices has transformed how audiences interact with content.
However, this digital revolution has also introduced unprecedented challenges in terms of content security and copyright protection. Copyright infringement has become an enduring headache for enterprises like K+, TV360, and FPT Play.
Mr. Pham Hoang Hai, Director of the Digital Content Copyright Center, Department of Broadcasting, Television and Electronic Information, Ministry of Information and Communications shared about the situation of digital content copyright infringement in Vietnam.
Assessing this situation, Mr. Pham Hoang Hai, representing the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, stated that copyright violations in Vietnam have become increasingly complex. Numerous rogue websites offer pirated football matches, as well as movies and TV shows.
According to SimilarWeb data, there are currently about 70 rogue football websites with over 1.5 billion views in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, SimilarWeb statistics indicate that there are more than 200 rogue movie websites attracting approximately 120 million views per month, with the top 10 sites amassing over 66 million monthly views.
Mr. Hai pointed out that a common trait among these copyright-violating websites is their use of international domain names and information-hiding services. They operate publicly and frequently change domain names when blocked. Illegal web management entities often feature harmful advertisements, betting, and gambling on these platforms.
A typical violation method employed by these rogue websites involves broadcasting content on platforms such as OTT, terrestrial digital television, and satellite TV immediately after copyright owners release it. Violators livestream this content on social media or edit and upload it.
Echoing these sentiments, lawyer Pham Thanh Thuy, responsible for anti-copyright infringement at K+ Digital Television, affirmed the rampant copyright infringement on the internet. For instance, a single match broadcasted on K+ and its affiliated distributors can also be streamed on numerous rogue websites and apps.
Citing data from Media Partners Asia, lawyer Pham Thanh Thuy revealed that Vietnam ranks third in the region for copyright infringement, with 15.5 million people regularly accessing rogue websites. Digital platforms are the primary domain for copyright infringements.
Content copyright holders are hopeful that effective anti-copyright infringement efforts will convince at least 10% of the 15.5 million illegal viewers to transition into legal subscribers. This would provide content providers with additional resources to reinvest in production or purchase valuable content rights.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Han, CEO of Thudo Multimedia
Supplementing information regarding the losses resulting from digital content copyright breaches, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Han, General Director of Thu Do Multimedia Company, emphasized that 80% of violations occur on digital platforms, with TV shows, movies, and music being the most frequently infringed content.
Global statistics indicate that damages from copyright infringement across the film, music, and television industries reached $65 billion in 2022. In Vietnam, this number was around $348 million USD, equivalent to approximately 7,000 billion VND.
Mr. Han underscored, ‘Without effective copyright protection, the digital content industry in Vietnam will struggle to thrive and contribute to the nation’s prosperity.’
Representatives of the Vietnam Digital Communications Association (VDCA) noted that although domain blocking measures have been implemented in Vietnam, they are still insufficient in terms of protection and require multifaceted approaches to address existing risks.
Additionally, OTT television providers and online distributors face other risks that demand comprehensive copyright protection solutions.
Mr. Vu Kiem Van, Vice President – General Secretary of Vietnam Digital Communications Association (VDCA) – affirmed that the issue of content copyright protection is currently facing difficulties.
In response to these ongoing challenges, Mr. Vu Kiem Van, Secretary-General of VDCA, emphasized the pressing need for copyright protection, especially in the current digital transformation landscape. He stressed that this issue is of great concern to creative and digital content businesses.
According to experts, there are currently three groups of solutions in addressing copyright infringement. Among them, two traditional approaches have been in use for some time: technical solutions that involve developing features to encrypt content or trace violations and legal measures encompassing administrative, civil, and criminal actions.
The third group of solutions represents a new trend, already successfully applied in many advanced countries worldwide. It includes access blocking and ‘Knock and Talk.’ Specifically, it involves identifying the head of the copyright infringement operation and directly meeting with them to request the cessation of all infringements.
Moreover, many businesses are now showing interest in a novel technological solution known as Sigma Active Observer (SAO). This solution offers a flexible and proactive defense mechanism that actively detects and reports potential copyright violations.
SAO not only incorporates the robust security of Sigma Multi-DRM but also observes all aspects of content distribution and online broadcasting activities. Importantly, with the application of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, this solution can identify abnormal behaviors and potential threats at every stage, including the detection of cross-border distribution infringements and the forging of data packets.
Furthermore, it delves deep into user behavior patterns and immediately identifies suspicious activities, offering protection against interference.
The situation of music, film, and television copyright infringement on digital platforms is rampant, increasingly complex, and sophisticated. This raises the demand for the development of an automated system to block access to pirate websites and the tightening of legal mechanisms for copyright protection.
At a symposium on September 26th, seminar program “Solving the Copyright Protection Challenge for the Digital Music-Film-Television Industry,” organized by Thủ Đô Multimedia, several leading newspapers, including the renowned vietnamnews.vn.
According to vietnamnews.vn magazine dated issue Friday, September 29, 2023, “VN loses $350m due to copyright infringement”.
VN loses $350m due to copyright infringement
Việt Nam ranks third in the region in terms of copyright infringement rate, with 15.5 million people regularly accessing pirated websites. In 2022, the problem of copyright infringement cost the country US$350 million. Phạm Hoàng Hải, Director of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, a unit under the Ministry of Information and Communications, said that currently, copyright infringement is extremely complicated. There are a series of pirated websites for football tournaments as well as movies. According to data from SimilarWeb, there are currently about 70 pirated football websites, with more than 1.5 billion views in the years 2022 and 2023. SimilarWeb’s data also shows that there are more than 200 pirated movie websites attracting about 120 million views per month, of which the top 10 have more than 66 million views per month.
In particular, recently it was discovered that a number of pirated websites have converted to Japanese Anime comics. The copyright infringement of comic books has also received a strong response from the owners. According to statistics, from August 2022 to August 2023, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information coordinated with the Department of Information Security and rights holders to prevent nearly 1,000 pirated football websites like xoilac.1tiengruoi.link, xoivo4.com, coichua.net, tammao.tv, 90link. com, xoilac.live, Xemtructiep.xyz. The list of violating websites is published on banquyen.gov.vn. At a seminar on copyright infringement this week, lawyer Phạm Thanh Thủy, who is in charge of anti-copyright infringement at K+ Digital Television, cited data from Media Partners Asia, saying that if calculated per capita, Việt Nam ranks first in the region in terms of copyright infringement. Nguyễn Ngọc Hân, General Director of Thu Do Multimedia Company, added that copyright infringement in Việt Nam ranks third in Southeast Asia and 9th worldwide. Around 80 per cent of violations take place on digital platforms with the most violated content including TV shows, movies, music and books. “Damages from copyright infringement for the three industries of film, music, and television worldwide in 2022 was up to $65 billion.” Experts suggest that the characteristics of pirated websites include the use of international domain names and information-hiding services; they operate publicly and constantly change domain names when blocked. Illegal web management units often feature harmful advertisements, betting, and gambling on these pages. Hải from the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information said they coordinate with the Department of Information Security and copyright owners to detect web violations, verify and investigate infringing content, and send requests to internet service providers to prevent Vietnamese internet users from accessing infringing websites. This means users in Việt Nam using smartphones and computers will not be able to access the infringing website, but people abroad can still access it. The management unit only prevents it within Vietnamese territory. The process is that after the rights holder submits an application with documents proving rights and evidence of the violation, the state agency will review and decide to prevent it. Next, ISPs (Internet Service Providers) will prevent and stop providing DNS services for domain names of pirated websites at the request of state agencies. Lawyer Thủy said that currently, measures to deal with copyright infringement in the digital environment, specifically technical measures, include creating codes and keys to prevent unauthorised access. For instance, the content will be encrypted using DRM measures. When certain individuals still intentionally violate despite having the key code, there are additional Fingerprint or Watermarking measures. Each customer, when registering a subscription, will have an identification code. If someone live-streams pirated content from their subscription to the network environment, television stations can identify that subscription code and thus “catch” this copyright violator. Many experts believe that to effectively prevent online copyright infringement, it is necessary to establish a coordination point between rights owners, State management agencies, and internet service providers; set up a flexible blocking mechanism – block and evict new domain names that emerge after blocking; and apply various appropriate technical measures to block access. Concurrently, it is essential to develop automatic blocking tools for all parties to minimise time and human resources. “Of the total 15.5 million pirated subscribers, as long as piracy is well protected and 10 per cent of them convert into legal subscribers, units will have more funds to reinvest in production or purchase copyrights for better and valuable content,” she added.
Digital copyright infringement is increasingly common in many different forms, causing many serious consequences.
Faced with this difficult problem, on September 26, a workshop with the topic “Protecting intellectual property rights in the music, film and digital television industries” was organized by the Vietnam Digital Media Association (Vietnam Digital Media Association). VDCA) and Thu Do Multimedia to provide optimal technology solutions for the above problems. Participating in the seminar, hoabinhtv.vn newspaper also shared the same opinion:
Alongside its outstanding advantages, the digital revolution in the fields of film and television is presenting challenges in content copyright protection.
During the seminar titled ‘Solving the Copyright Protection Puzzle for the Digital Music, Film, and TV Industry,’ organized by the Digital Content Creative Alliance of Vietnam (DCCA) in collaboration with various entities on September 26th, delegates emphasized that well-known online film distributors have become crucial players in the internet entertainment ecosystem by catering to the demand for limitless content.
However, ensuring the integrity and exclusivity of distributed content has become a significant concern and a puzzle that content owners and distributors must prioritize.
According to the delegates, in addition to its remarkable benefits, the digital transformation in music and television has introduced challenges in content security and copyright protection. Therefore, there is a need for solutions to safeguard content from copyright infringement risks.
Representatives of the Vietnam Digital Communications Association (VDCA) noted that, although domain blocking measures have been implemented in Vietnam, and digital rights management (DRM) solutions like Widevine, FairPlay, and PlayReady have been deployed to prevent unauthorized access and distribution, the current copyright protection solutions are still insufficient and require multifaceted approaches to address existing risks. Specifically, content providers face challenges with DRM vulnerabilities, such as the exploitation of packet spoofing to deceive license servers and bypass authorization, allowing content to be accessed by untrusted accounts.
Furthermore, OTT television providers and online distributors are grappling with other risks, necessitating comprehensive copyright protection solutions, including issues related to screen recording devices, the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent geographical restrictions, and the unauthorized distribution of content from one country to another.
The seminar “Copyright protection for the music – film – digital television industry” was held on the morning of September 26.
Mr. Vu Kiem Van, Secretary-General of VDCA, pointed out that content copyright protection, especially in the current era of digital transformation, poses numerous challenges. This is a matter of great concern for creative enterprises and digital content businesses.
To address these threats, the seminar delegates unanimously agreed that, alongside governance policies and management, technology plays a crucial role. One of the technology solutions that garnered interest at the seminar is the Sigma Active Observer (SAO) solution.
This solution not only offers the security layer of Sigma Multi-DRM but also observes and monitors every aspect of content distribution and online broadcasting activities. Notably, with the application of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, this solution can identify abnormal behaviors and potential threats at every stage, including detecting cross-border distribution violations and packet spoofing. Additionally, it delves into user behavior patterns, promptly identifying suspicious activities and protecting against interference.
The digital revolution in the television industry is currently facing unprecedented challenges in terms of content security and copyright protection. These difficulties necessitate the emergence of new solutions to ensure that content remains unaffected by a variety of copyright infringement-related risks.
On September 26th, under the theme ‘Addressing Copyright Protection Issues in the Music, Film, and Digital Television Industry,’ the Vietnam Digital Communications Association (VDCA) collaborated with Hanoi Multimedia to organize an event aimed at finding innovative solutions to these challenges.
Following the seminar, the online news portal vn.economy also published an article:
Vietnam ranks third in the region in terms of copyright infringement, with 15.5 million people regularly accessing illegal websites. In 2022, copyright infringement caused Vietnam losses of $350 million…
The seminar “Copyright protection for the music – film – digital television industry” was held on the morning of September 26.
At the seminar ‘Solving the Copyright Protection Puzzle for the Digital Music, Film, and Television Industry’ held on September 26 in Hanoi, many experts believe that if Vietnam effectively combats copyright violations, it will create favorable conditions for the development of the digital content industry.
Copyright Violations in Vietnam: Third in the Region, Ninth in the World Mr. Pham Hoang Hai, Director of the Center for Measurement of Radio and Television Broadcasting and Electronic Information, an entity under the Ministry of Information and Communications, stated that copyright violations are currently complex, with numerous illegal websites (pirate websites) for both football and movies. According to SimilarWeb data, there are currently about 70 pirate football websites, with over 1.5 billion views in 2022 and 2023.
SimilarWeb’s data also indicates that there are over 200 pirate movie websites attracting approximately 120 million views per month, with the top 10 receiving over 66 million views each month. Recently, some pirate websites have shifted to the Japanese anime genre. Copyright infringement in the realm of manga has garnered strong reactions from copyright owners in Japan regarding violations in Vietnam.
Mr. Pham Hoang Hai, Director of the Digital Content Copyright Center, Department of Broadcasting, Television and Electronic Information, Ministry of Information and Communications shared about the situation of digital content copyright infringement in Vietnam.
Mr. Pham Hoang Hai, Director of the Center for Measurement of Radio and Television Broadcasting and Electronic Information Copyright infringement is highly complex, with numerous pirate websites for both football and movies.
According to statistics, from August 2022 to August 2023, the Center for Measurement of Radio and Television Broadcasting and Electronic Information has cooperated with the Information Security Agency and copyright owners to block nearly 1,000 pirate football websites such as xoilac.1tiengruoi.link, xoivo4.com, coichua.net, tammao.tv, 90link.com, xoilac.live, and xemtructiep.xyz. The list of infringing websites is published on the copyright.gov.vn website.
Lawyer Pham Thanh Thuy, in charge of copyright infringement prevention at K+ Digital Television, cited Media Partners Asia data, stating that Vietnam ranks third in the region for the copyright violation rate, with 15.5 million people regularly accessing illegal websites. However, according to Thuy, when measured per capita, Vietnam ranks first in the region for copyright violations.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Han shares about the Sigma Active Observer (SAO) solution, which integrates AI in digital copyright protection.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Han, CEO of Hanoi Multimedia Company, added that Vietnam ranks third in copyright violations in Southeast Asia and ninth globally. Eighty percent of violations occur on digital platforms, with the most infringed content including television programs, films, music, and books. “Copyright infringement in Vietnam in 2022 resulted in approximately $350 million in damages,” Han said, adding that the global copyright infringement damages for the film, music, and television industries in 2022 amounted to $65 billion.
Effective Measures Against Copyright Infringement Will Require Additional Investment Analysts believe that the characteristics of copyright-infringing websites include the use of international domain names and hidden information services, public operations, and frequent domain name changes when blocked. These pirate websites often display harmful advertisements, gambling, and casinos.
A typical form of copyright infringement on digital platforms is that after copyright owners broadcast or publish content on platforms such as OTT, terrestrial digital television, and satellite digital television, violators immediately engage in live streaming or re-upload the content on social media, or cut and publish the content.
According to Mr. Pham Hoang Hai, technical measures are being implemented, with the Center for Measurement of Radio and Television Broadcasting and Electronic Information working together with the Information Security Agency (under the Ministry of Information and Communications) and copyright owners to detect copyright infringements, verify and investigate infringing content, and request Internet service providers (ISPs) to block access for Internet users in Vietnam to infringing websites. In other words, users in Vietnam using smartphones and computers will be unable to access infringing websites, while users abroad can still access them. In this case, the managing entity only blocks access within Vietnam’s territory.
The process involves copyright owners submitting applications with supporting documents demonstrating their rights and evidence of infringements. State agencies will review and decide on the block, after which ISPs (Internet service providers) will proceed to block and stop providing DNS services for the domains of pirate websites, as requested by state agencies.
Lawyer Pham Thanh Thuy stated that there are currently various technical measures to combat copyright violations in the digital environment, such as technical measures – creating codes and locks to prevent unauthorized access, such as encrypting content using DRM methods. When some individuals intentionally violate copyright despite the presence of codes, additional measures like fingerprinting or watermarking may be applied. Each subscriber receives a unique identifier, and if that person illegally live streams content from their subscription on the internet, television stations can activate that subscriber’s identifier and thereby identify the copyright infringer.
Additionally, there are legal measures to support copyright owners, including administrative, civil, criminal, and Notice & Takedown measures. However, according to Thuy, the implementation of legal measures faces many challenges. Furthermore, in today’s conditions, applying administrative, civil, and criminal measures is very difficult, and the duration of cases is lengthy, about 2-3 years. A typical example is the Phimmoi case, which lasted 4 years.
The Center for Digital Copyright Protection and many experts believe that to effectively prevent online copyright infringement, there must be coordination between copyright owners, state management agencies, and ISPs; a flexible blocking mechanism must be established to block newly emerging domains after blocking; different technical measures must be applied to block access (DNS, IP, CDN). Moreover, the development of automatic blocking tools should be considered to reduce time and human resources.
“In a total of 15.5 million subscribers who watch pirated content, if only 10% of them switch to legal subscriptions, the companies will have additional funds to reinvest in producing or acquiring the rights to valuable content. This will contribute to the development of the digital content industry in Vietnam,” said Lawyer Pham Thanh Thuy.”
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