Watching movies, listening to music, or following sports for free online may seem harmless, but it causes significant economic losses and poses cybersecurity risks.

Copyright infringement in the digital environment has become a pressing challenge for many countries. In Vietnam, the film “Bo Gia” has been illegally distributed on piracy websites.

To combat digital content piracy, Vietnamese content producers and distributors, alongside international experts, have been raising alarms and proposing comprehensive solutions involving legal frameworks, technology, and public awareness.

At the recent “Enhancing international cooperation in protecting digital content copyright” workshop in Hanoi, Matthew Cheetham, representing the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA), revealed that 56% of surveyed Vietnamese admitted to accessing pirated content within the past 12 months.

Piracy methods range from using Android boxes to watch illegal streams, visiting unlicensed websites, to sharing unauthorized links via social media and messaging apps. Many assume “free viewing” is harmless, but the reality is starkly different.

Nguyen Ngoc Han, CEO of Thu Do Multimedia, estimated that in 2022 Vietnam lost around USD 350 million due to piracy. Globally, in 2023 alone, the music, film, and television industries suffered an estimated USD 65 billion in losses.

Sean Godfrey, Head of Legal and Enforcement for Asia-Pacific at the English Premier League, noted that Vietnam has responded quickly by tracking and blocking thousands of infringing websites.

These sites, experts warn, not only breach copyright but also host malware, gambling ads, data-stealing software, and pose risks of identity theft, including banking and social media account compromises. While many legitimate distributors offer exclusive content at affordable rates, illegal viewing remains common, with users easily sharing pirated links without fully grasping the consequences.

Cheetham cited Indonesia’s example, where, since 2020, authorities have aggressively blocked piracy sites, leading to sharp declines in illegal traffic and a shift toward legal platforms. CAP’s survey in Vietnam found that 53% of users would stop visiting piracy sites if they were blocked. This demonstrates the real-world effectiveness of site blocking in changing user behavior.

However, hackers can bypass such measures by purchasing legitimate accounts and recording content via devices or screen connections. This underscores the growing need for advanced content encryption.

One highlighted solution at the workshop was the Sigma Multi-DRM and SAO (Sigma Active Observer) system developed by Thu Do Multimedia. Using artificial intelligence (AI), it detects and prevents unauthorized access, VPN bypassing, and attacks on content protection layers. Leading pay-TV platforms such as TV360, FPT Play, and VTVcab ON have successfully deployed Sigma Multi-DRM, reporting exceptional results in combating digital piracy.

Experts agreed that addressing the root cause requires not only technological adoption but also legal improvements and behavioral change among users.

Domestic and international speakers shared updated information and potential solutions. Lawyer Le Quang Vinh from Bross & Partners highlighted Vietnam’s efforts to align its legal framework with international standards, including rules for collecting electronic evidence and cross-border transaction records - crucial for handling online cases.

He suggested participating in international judicial cooperation agreements and adopting mutual legal assistance policies to exchange evidence effectively with other countries. From a content producer’s perspective, Nguyen Vu Hoang from VTVGo stressed the need for tight coordination between technology, law, and state management to form a “closed-loop” copyright protection system.

Encouragingly, users are increasingly aware of the harm caused by piracy. Another CAP survey showed that 71% of Vietnamese would be willing to pay if piracy services were eliminated. The fight against illegal content remains challenging, but positive user trends, strong law enforcement, and advanced technology offer a path toward a sustainable copyright protection ecosystem.

PV