Organized Copyright Infringement Threatens Vietnamese Film Industry’s Growth

Since the beginning of 2026, Vietnamese functional agencies have been actively investigating and dismantling individuals and organized groups engaged in copyright infringement of cinematic works. These efforts reflect growing concern over the scale and professionalism of piracy operations within the country.

A film represents the culmination of hundreds or even thousands of working days by professionals and artists. Yet, with minimal effort, these creative achievements can be stolen, illegally distributed, and monetized by parties who have not contributed to their creation.

What is particularly alarming is that such piracy is no longer a sporadic or casual act but has evolved into a professional, organized system generating illegal profits amounting to hundreds of billions of Vietnamese dong.

This phenomenon transcends the common misconceptions of "free watching" or "sharing for fun." Instead, it constitutes industrial-scale infringement of intellectual property rights, severely impacting the film industry’s sustainability.

A prominent example is the film "Red Rain," which fell victim to illegal distribution websites. Many viewers recorded and shared striking scenes on social media platforms to attract engagement, further facilitating unauthorized dissemination.

Each instance of illegal distribution diminishes the creative motivation of filmmakers and professionals. Investors become more cautious about funding large-scale projects, and producers hesitate before committing to high-budget films.

Without effective copyright protection, capital investment may withdraw from the cinematic sector, ultimately depriving audiences of access to quality productions.

Vietnam aims to develop its cultural industry into a new economic growth engine. Achieving this goal requires first and foremost the protection of intellectual property rights.

The film industry faces serious damage if newly released movies are widely available on pirated websites. Moreover, the lack of protection for producers’ legitimate rights undermines efforts to attract investment.

While recent prosecutions of violators signal progress, addressing only a handful of cases remains insufficient.

Authorities emphasize the need to continue dismantling large piracy networks, blocking advertising revenue streams for illegal websites, implementing traceability technologies, and strictly penalizing secret filming and unauthorized sharing of film content on social media.

Equally important is fostering a culture of copyright respect within the community. Viewers must recognize that accessing pirated movie sites supports illegal activities, and sharing unauthorized content harms genuine creators.

Vietnamese cinema stands at a pivotal moment with opportunities for significant breakthroughs. However, without robust copyright enforcement, the industry cannot produce larger-scale works or establish itself as a strong national film sector.

The existence of rampant illegal films not only steals revenue from individual productions but also jeopardizes the entire future of Vietnamese cinema.

Through illegal websites and applications, perpetrators reap billions of Vietnamese dong in unlawful profits while inflicting substantial harm on producers and distributors.

Decree 287/2026/ND-CP provides regulatory measures on copyright fees across cinema, fine arts, photography, performing arts, journalism, and publishing sectors, underscoring the government’s commitment to intellectual property protection.