The Copyright Office of Vietnam (COV) said that Vietnam had instituted many activities to protect copyrights, like dealing with violations, building the legal system, strengthening propaganda and education, as well as promoting international cooperation.
In 2012, COV received and granted 4,148 certificates of copyright and related rights, an increase of 4.59 per cent over 2011. The acceptance of applications and issuance of certificates strictly follow the order and procedure and meet administrative reform requirements.
COV also received 12 complaints and denunciations on copyright and related rights, of which 11 cases had been settled and one was forwarded to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Drafting legal documents
In 2012, Vietnam issued the Circular 07 stipulating the liabilities of intermediary services providers in the protection of copyright and related rights in internet and telecom network environments and the Circular No. 15/2012/TT-BVHTTDL dated December 13, 2012 guiding assessment activities on copyright and related rights. COV is drafting a decree on sanctions on administrative violations in the field.
The Prime Minister approved the project "Strengthening the capacity for effective management and implementation of copyright and related rights protection for Vietnamese copyright and related rights management organisations until 2015".
Propagation and education activities on copyright and related rights are always focused. Vietnam organised many events to train and inform new provisions of Vietnamese and international laws on copyright and related rights for cultural managers and seniors of the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism in provinces and cities, and related participants. Supplementary knowledge training programmes on copyright and related rights were opened for officials from intellectual property management and enforcement agencies.
Such publications as “Vietnamese and international laws on copyright and related rights", “Yearbook of copyright and related rights registration in Vietnam in 2011”, “Functions, tasks, organizational structure and operation of the Copyright Office of Vietnam”, “Summary record on implementation of the Directive 36/2008/Ct-TTg of the Prime Minister” were published and released to provincial/municipal Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and competent authorities in 2012.
Such publications as “Vietnamese and international laws on copyright and related rights", “Yearbook of copyright and related rights registration in Vietnam in 2011”, “Functions, tasks, organizational structure and operation of the Copyright Office of Vietnam”, “Summary record on implementation of the Directive 36/2008/Ct-TTg of the Prime Minister” were published and released to provincial/municipal Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and competent authorities in 2012.
Expanding international integration
A number of international cooperation and integration events in the field of copyright and related rights took place in Vietnam in 2012. The memorandum of understanding on cooperation in copyright and related rights between the Copyright Office of Vietnam and the Korea Copyright Office was signed in Hanoi on December 13, 2012. The main content of the memorandum refers to the exchange of information and documents regarding laws and technologies of copyright and related rights, personnel exchange and international cooperation as well as promoting interchange of copyright and related rights management organisations in Vietnam and South Korea.
Vietnam in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) successfully held the Asia - Pacific Regional Symposium on the Development of National Copyright Policies and Strategies. The hosting assignment to Vietnam reflected the trust of WIPO to Vietnam.
COV staffs participated in governmental delegations in charge of negotiating the Trans-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP), the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement, and the Vietnam - EFTA (European Free Trade Area) Free Trade Agreement. COV staffs were assigned to work on copyright and related rights and review trade policies in the framework of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Vietnam and Laos continued to cooperate in copyright and related rights in the framework of the Protocol "Strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and Laos on intellectual property." Accordingly, COV, through the National Office of Intellectual Property, helped Laos improve the capacity of copyright and related rights management system in particular and the entire intellectual property system in general to develop intellectual property activities in Laos in a comprehensive manner.
Vietnam has participated in five international conventions on copyright and related rights, including Berne Convention, Rome Convention, Geneva Convention, Brussels Convention and TRIPS Agreement. Vietnam also signed the Agreement on Establishment of Copyright Relations with the United States and the Agreement on Protection of Intellectual Property Rights with Switzerland. Besides, in trade and investment agreements where Vietnam signed with other countries like the United States and Japan also included contents concerning copyright and related rights. Nationwide activities to direct, guide, and check the implementation of national laws and international treaties on copyright and related rights were carried out regularly.
Huong Giang
Vietnamese
