Vietnam Strengthens IP Enforcement Coordination Amid Digital and AI Challenges

On October 27, 2026, in Hanoi, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam hosted a working session with the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and the law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP (Brownstein). The meeting aimed to exchange experiences and strengthen coordination in enforcing intellectual property (IP) rights within the increasingly complex digital environment.

Deputy Director Nguyen Hoang Giang of the Intellectual Property Office highlighted the growing necessity for close collaboration among enforcement agencies, especially given the cross-border nature of digital infringements and the rapid evolution of technology. He noted that distributed infrastructure spanning multiple countries, swift domain name changes, sophisticated delivery methods for infringing content, and advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are creating new challenges for detecting and addressing IP violations.

The session underscored the critical importance of regular communication between regulatory bodies, enforcement forces, and rights holders to improve coordination and devise effective solutions. One key topic was the quality and timeliness of information provided by rights holders. In the digital realm, simply blocking an infringing domain is often insufficient, as infringing content can quickly reappear under new domains or formats. Participants agreed on enhancing information sharing, clearly defining coordination points, and ensuring continuous monitoring of enforcement actions.

The meeting also emphasized that enforcement must be rigorous and lawful, safeguarding the legitimate rights of all parties involved. For complex cases, cooperation from rights holders in providing documentation, clarifying the nature of violations, and offering expert assistance is essential to equip authorities with sufficient grounds for action.

Further discussions addressed cooperation in training, raising awareness, and sharing international best practices related to emerging types of violations. Challenges identified included intermediary platforms, devices containing infringing content, digital accounts, tools circumventing technological protection measures, and the use of AI in copying and transforming content. These issues require further research to inform policy development.

Representatives from ESA and Brownstein shared international perspectives on digital IP enforcement. The ESA representative pointed out that game copyright infringement implicates not only copyright law but also user safety and cybersecurity. Illegal game sources may contain malware, risk data theft, and pose other dangers to consumers. Thus, copyright protection efforts must align with facilitating consumer access to legal, safe, and reliable products.

ESA also highlighted that infringing websites often reappear under new domains or formats. Experience from other markets shows that combining technical measures, enhanced information sharing with rights holders, and strict enforcement of typical cases can improve deterrence and reduce repeat offenses.

AI was identified as a significant new challenge for copyright enforcement. AI tools are rapidly transforming how game content is analyzed, converted, and reproduced across platforms. In some instances, AI-assisted conversion tools do not directly contain copyrighted content, complicating infringement identification and necessitating further study of both technical and legal frameworks.

From a policy and investment advisory standpoint, Brownstein representatives emphasized that effective IP protection and enforcement not only defend rights holders’ interests but also bolster the investment climate and support creative industry growth. Given Vietnam’s initiatives to develop its game industry and train skilled professionals, a transparent, secure, and enforceable IP environment will encourage greater participation from developers, businesses, and investors.

This collaborative meeting marks a significant step in Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to adapt IP enforcement to the digital age, addressing emerging challenges posed by technology and AI while fostering a robust ecosystem for creative industries.