According to the initial civil court ruling, Zack Hemsey released the album The Way in 2011, consisting of 10 original compositions for which he owns both authorship and recording rights. In October 2017, Hemsey discovered that the music video Cham khe tim anh mot chut thoi had used a portion of his track The Way as background music in a car crash scene.

Alleging unauthorized use that compromised the integrity of his original work, Hemsey filed a lawsuit demanding that Noo Phuoc Thinh cease the violation, remove the MV from all platforms and social media, pay damages of VND850 million (approximately $34,000), and issue a public apology in the press.

In response, Noo Phuoc Thinh stated he was not the owner of the music video. In July 2017, he had been invited by Le Tuan Khanh to participate as the lead actor and singer for the project. He fulfilled all contractual obligations and received payment accordingly. Under the agreement, Le Tuan Khanh was responsible for the script, hiring the director and actors, and acquiring the music rights for Cham khe tim anh mot chut thoi.

Le Tuan Khanh also managed the use of Noo Phuoc Thinh’s name, image, and performance for YouTube distribution. The singer asserted that Khanh was the rightful owner of both the MV and the “Noo Phuoc Thinh” YouTube channel.

The court’s decision aligned with this claim. Based on the contractual agreement, it concluded that Le Tuan Khanh held ownership over the MV and the associated YouTube channel. It also determined that Noo Phuoc Thinh did not use the audio recording of The Way, nor did he engage in any activity that infringed on Zack Hemsey’s copyright or related rights.

As a result, the court dismissed all claims against Noo Phuoc Thinh, including demands for financial compensation, legal fees, and a public apology.

Following the ruling, Noo Entertainment  - the singer’s company  - issued a public statement:
“This ruling affirms the transparency and professionalism of Noo Phuoc Thinh’s artistic activities. He sincerely thanks his audience, partners, and the media for their continued support.”

Mi Le