VietNamNet Bridge – According to the Performing Art Center, police have begun investigating the operation of the Vietnam Center for Protection of Music Copyright (VCPMC).

Composers raise voices on copyright laws


The investigation is urged by an incident on February 2012, when the VCPMC sent a petition signed by dozens of songwriters and composers to the Performing Art Agency--for tighter regulation on copyright payments and permission for live performances.

After that a debate was raised among the VCPMC, composers and the Performing Art Agency on music copyright and royalties. The controversy has then evoked doubts of financial management at the VCPMC.

VCPMC is a non-government organization which is under the management of the Vietnam Composers’ Association. The center was established in April 2002 to explore and protect copyrights through collecting royalties of music works in 20 fields.

However, the Vietnam Composers’ Association says that this organization has operated independently since its establishment. The Performing Art Agency says that this center operates like a private company.

The police have conducted an investigation at the VCPMC to define whether this organization operates under the law or not.

Van Sam