Vietnam’s government has launched a comprehensive crackdown on piracy websites and intellectual property violations, effective nationwide from Thursday through May 30. The campaign follows a directive signed by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung under the order of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.
The directive highlights that intellectual property infringements remain complex in certain sectors and regions, continuing to negatively impact the business environment and the legal rights of individuals and organizations. In response, authorities across the country have been instructed to take immediate and decisive action to prevent and address violations, with no exceptions permitted.
The Ministry of Public Security has been tasked with investigating and prosecuting serious cases, with a particular focus on dismantling high-traffic piracy websites. These sites are known for distributing films, music, mobile games, and television content in both Vietnamese and foreign languages.
Forces under the Ministry of National Defense, including border guards and the coast guard, have been directed to strengthen enforcement activities. Meanwhile, the Supreme People's Procuracy and the Supreme People's Court are required to accelerate the prosecution and adjudication of intellectual property cases.
A key objective of the campaign is to increase the number of cases handled by at least 20 percent compared to May 2025. The focus will be on copyright violations, industrial property infringement, and the proliferation of counterfeit goods.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism will conduct inspections specifically targeting software and digital content copyrights. Media agencies have been assigned the responsibility of raising public awareness about intellectual property rights and the consequences of violations.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade, together with local governments, will intensify market inspections to detect and address IP violations. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for strengthening border controls and suspending customs clearance for goods suspected of being counterfeit.
To ensure transparency with the international community, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate with relevant agencies to provide updates on enforcement efforts to international partners.
All ministries and local authorities are required to submit daily reports on major cases and to maintain enforcement activities beyond the May 30 deadline. Provincial authorities are mandated to establish inter-agency task forces to coordinate the implementation of the directive and ensure its effectiveness.
This nationwide campaign underscores Vietnam’s commitment to strengthening its intellectual property enforcement regime and addressing the persistent challenges posed by online piracy and counterfeiting.