VietNamNet Bridge - In the U.S., the family of late composer Pham Duy has announced to prohibit the use of works and photos of the late musician on all means. The family members are discussing the exploitation and management of his music inheritance.

Famed Vietnamese songwriter Pham Duy dies at age 92 

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Late composer Pham Duy.

"The family of Pham Duy would like to announce that from the date of this notice (March 23, 2013) all works, pictures, music, name, personal information, singing voice, speeches of the late musicians Pham Duy and Duy Quang will not be used on all means, at all public shows (shows that are filmed or not) radio shows, television programs, newspapers, advertising and all forms of commercial use.

Any use that is not approved (in writing) by Pham Duy’s family or representative lawyers is a violation of the intellectual property rights of the family of Pham Duy and will be prosecuted to the law."

The announcement appeared shortly after Pham Duy died and it made many artists and audiences bewildered because Pham Duy’s music has been adored by the audience for a very long time. Moreover, his vast repertoire has yet to be fully exploited and a lot of artists want to use his songs in their music products. Many people fear that the case of Pham Duy will like the case of musician Trinh Cong Son. After Son died, it is very difficult for singers to use his songs.

It is said that after his death, Pham Duy’s family members have not reached agreement in the management of the talented musician’s music works. "This act may be temporary until the family members agree with each other on to exploitation and management of his music," an artist who is a friend of Pham Duy’s family said.

Singer Anh Tuyet said she was sad because Pham Duy’s music still has not been widespread in Vietnam, although the audience loves it. "When my friend in the U.S. mailed me the notification of Pham Duy’s family, I was very sad. As a person who loves his music, I do not want such thing to happen. I think the family would make Pham Duy sad, because more than anyone else, he liked his music to reach the audience."

Phuong Nam Film, which holds the copyright of Pham Duy’s songs in Vietnam, said that the notification of Pham Duy’s is normal affirmative action and copyright protection. However, it is valid only in the U.S. In Vietnam, for the songs that Phuong Nam Film holds the rights in 20 years, singers who want to use them only need the firm’s permission.

Pham Duy, born in Hanoi on October 5, 1921 as Pham Duy Can, had a musical career spanning more than seventy years and is widely considered one of the three most influential figures in modern Vietnamese music, along with Cao and Trinh Cong Son.

He and his family settled in Orange County, California in 1975 after the Fall of Saigon but he returned to Vietnam in the late 1990s and in 2005 decided to spend the remainder of his life in HCMC. 

T. Van