An interagency inspection team consisted of the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Culture-Sports-Tourism (MOCST), in cooperation with the Hi-tech Crime Bureau (C50, Ministry of Public Security), recently launched a series of raids across the country, targeting companies suspected of using unlicensed software.

Enforcement efforts will be further intensified across the country in computer software

Six businesses in total were put under scrutiny, and were found using illegal software worth about VND6.5 billion ($296,800) as estimated by the rightful owners.

These firms were Oriental Fastech Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Di Hung International Co. Ltd., Duong Ban Design Co. Ltd., all headquartered in the southern province of Binh Duong; Ho Chi Minh City-based Ty Hung Co. Ltd. and AAA Pharmacy Co. Ltd.; and Alliance One Garment Co. Ltd., based in the Mekong delta province of Ben Tre.

At these six companies, the interagency team went through 247 computers being used at these firms for business purposes, where they found more than 500 software programmes without a legitimate license.

Among the unlicensed software detected, which included software from Lac Viet and Microsoft, there were specialised graphic design software from Adobe and Autodesk, all of whom are members of The Software Alliance- BSA, a leading advocate for the global software industry.

The cross-department taskforce also confirmed that agents of the six wrongdoing firms signed off the inspection reports, admitting to their infringements, while pledging to remove all unlicensed software and take steps to legalise all the software they use for commercial purposes in their operations.

Bolstering effective intellectual property right (IPR) enforcement is now high on the government’s agenda, as part of its efforts to uphold its IPR international commitments, especially those in the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP).

“To keep its end of the bargain when it comes to international requirements and commitments, the government has increasingly put in place a legal system that is strong enough to safeguard IP rights, as well as upgrading the capacity of the enforcement team over time to effectively safeguard and protect IPRs,” said Tran Van Minh, MOCST deputy chief inspector.

“We will have more of these inspections and audits underway to put the heat on anyone engaging in ownership and related right infringement, including that for computer software. In case of large scale offences, we will even consider penal actions, especially infringements related to computer software,” Minh added.

Over the years, the Vietnamese government has done a good job in terms of education, combined with aggressive enforcement in protection of IPRs in all relevant sectors, especially computer software.

The results were encouraging as Vietnam achieved an impressive 3 per cent cut of computer software piracy from 81 per cent in 2013 to 78 per cent in 2016.

Tarun Sawney, senior director for Asia Pacific at BSA said, “We believe that with strong efforts and smart strategies, Vietnam is committed to upholding its international commitments towards IPR protection.  I'm confident that concerted efforts between enforcement agencies and right owners’ agents will help better achieve the set goals for IPR protection and enforcement.”

A MOCST Inspectorate recent report shows that during 2006-2015 interagency inspection teams spot-checked 541 businesses across the country, with 27,602 computers scanned, and found numerous computer software copying acts without the owners’ consent.

The ministry inspectors collected VND8.6 billion ($392,600) in fines for contribution to the state coffers, and transferred one case to investigating agencies for further actions.