Vietnamese Musician Nguyen Van Chung Details Longstanding Struggles with Intellectual Property Theft

Nguyen Van Chung, a prominent Vietnamese musician born in 1983, has publicly shared his prolonged challenges with intellectual property theft in the music industry. Known for hit songs such as "Nhật ký của mẹ," "Chiếc khăn gió ấm," "Mùa đông không lạnh," and "Em luôn ở trong tâm trí anh," as well as recent popular tracks like "Viết tiếp câu chuyện hòa bình" and "Nỗi đau giữa hòa bình," Chung has been a significant figure in Vietnam's music scene across multiple generations.

In an interview with Lao Dong reporters, Chung disclosed that one of his hit songs generated approximately 1.7 billion VND in revenue for a network operator through ringtone services, yet he personally received only 30 million VND as a form of consolation. This incident dates back to 2008 and marked a profound shock early in his career, highlighting the disparity between the earnings from his creative work and his actual compensation.

Chung described the casual dismissal he encountered when confronting the singer's management team, who offered minimal restitution and encouraged him to let the matter pass. This experience led him to become more vigilant regarding contracts, agreements, and documentation related to his music rights.

However, the rapid evolution of technology and the proliferation of new digital platforms have complicated his ability to monitor and control the use of his works. He also recounted being deceived by an individual claiming to be a copyright lawyer who promised to recover lost royalties but instead misused a power of attorney to sell rights to other companies for personal gain.

Further complicating matters, Chung has faced sophisticated scams from larger companies employing complex contractual language to exploit his rights. Each incident has contributed to his growing awareness and caution in protecting his intellectual property.

Despite these challenges, Chung emphasized that asserting his rights to fair compensation is a natural and justified action, akin to any worker seeking rightful payment for their labor. "Demanding rights for what is worthy of being received from the fruits of labor is a very normal thing in society," he stated.

The musician welcomed recent interventions by the Ministry of Public Security, which has prosecuted several business owners for copyright infringement related to entities such as BH Media, Lululola, 1900 Group, May Sai Gon, and The Voice of Life. He views these actions as a positive step toward ending the longstanding culture of "free-use" mentality in Vietnam's entertainment and digital content industries.

"This makes me believe that I am about to be truly protected, that intellectual property thieves will be severely punished, and that music copyright will be respected," Chung said. He contrasted this with previous times when victims of infringement had little recourse or clarity on how to seek justice.

Chung is also recognized for his contributions to children's music, having composed approximately 300 songs with educational and humanistic themes, further cementing his influence in Vietnam's musical landscape.

The ongoing issue of unauthorized use of music on digital platforms and live performances has been a persistent problem in Vietnam's entertainment market. Despite repeated complaints from artists and accusations against exploitation units, public controversies often fade quickly without substantive resolution.

Chung's testimony underscores the need for stronger enforcement and awareness to protect creators' rights in the digital age, as well as the importance of legal and institutional support to ensure fair remuneration for artistic works.