Vietnam Advances Sports Intellectual Property to Drive Innovation and Economic Growth

The sports industry is increasingly recognized as a "smokeless" sector capable of generating substantial societal value when its intangible assets are effectively capitalized upon. In Vietnam, the growing significance of intellectual property (IP) in sports is opening fresh pathways for economic development, as stakeholders harness the commercial potential of assets including broadcasting rights, trademarks, and digital content.

The World Intellectual Property Organization’s selection of “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate” as the theme for World Intellectual Property Day 2026 underscores the critical message that passion for sports must be complemented by strategic IP utilization to maximize value. Sports, as an industry, extends beyond competition to become a vibrant creative sector contributing to the economy without environmental pollution.

Vietnam’s ongoing transition toward a development model grounded in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation positions IP as a foundational pillar of its knowledge-based economy. Experts observe that sports now encompass diverse revenue streams, including technology, apparel, media rights, and fan engagement, reflecting its evolution into a multifaceted creative industry.

Nguyen Hoang Giang, Deputy Director of the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam under the Ministry of Science and Technology, emphasized that the rapid expansion of the sports sector is supported by the IP system—an “invisible” yet decisive mechanism safeguarding and enhancing the value of creativity, brands, and content. He noted that the core values of modern sports rest firmly on IP foundations.

Broadcasting rights remain a principal source of revenue, while trademarks play a vital role in shaping identities across the sports ecosystem—from tournaments and clubs to athletes and events—thereby strengthening fan loyalty and market reach. As of April 2026, approximately 15,000 trademark applications have been filed in Vietnam’s sports sector, with a significant portion submitted by domestic enterprises, reflecting notable progress in IP engagement.

The IP Office of Vietnam is advancing digital transformation in IP management by developing an online filing system and a comprehensive industrial property database. These initiatives aim to enhance transparency and accessibility, facilitating more effective IP utilization.

Nguyen Huu Can, Acting Director of the Vietnam Intellectual Property Research Institute, highlighted that IP provides legal protection for technological applications in sports, including performance analytics, health monitoring systems, fan engagement platforms, and athlete image rights. This legal safeguard is crucial for fostering innovation and investment in the sector.

The sports industry is emerging as a promising domain within an IP-driven economy. The intrinsic value of intangible assets—such as broadcasting rights, image rights, trademarks, and digital content rights—determines the sector’s commercialization potential and market scale.

Luu Hoang Long, Director General of the IP Office of Vietnam, stressed a strategic shift from merely protecting and establishing IP rights toward actively commercializing these rights and integrating them into the market. This transition is essential for ensuring that IP serves as a genuine engine of economic growth.

Vietnam’s sports economy is beginning to reflect this paradigm shift. For example, broadcasting rights for national professional football leagues are valued at approximately 2.5 million USD per season. Additionally, the rapid expansion of esports underscores the necessity for robust IP protection across both physical and digital domains to encourage research and development investment, thereby promoting innovation in fast-growing sectors.

In Hanoi, IP is being positioned as a cornerstone of innovation and the knowledge-based economy. Nguyen To Quyen, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Science and Technology, emphasized that protecting and nurturing the value of sports IP is vital for fostering a creative, inspiring, sustainable, and accessible sports environment that connects people.

The revised IP Law of 2025 provides a comprehensive legal framework that supports the development of a modern sports industry driven by innovation and strong IP rights protection. Industry insiders believe that effectively harnessed sports IP could become a powerful driver of a high-value, environmentally friendly economy in the coming years.