In brief
On 30 September 2026, Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Decision No. 2558/QD-BVHTTDL ("Decision 2558"). With immediate effect, Decision 2558 renamed the Copyright Office as the Cultural Industries and Copyright Office ("Office") and gave it a significantly broader enforcement role.
Most notably, the Office may require intermediary service providers to remove or block access to copyright-infringing digital content. This reflects Vietnam's growing focus on online copyright enforcement and could give rights holders a more direct route to address digital infringement.
Key takeaways
- The Copyright Office has been renamed the Cultural Industries and Copyright Office, reflecting its broader mandate and stronger enforcement role.
- The Office may now require intermediary service providers to remove or block access to copyright-infringing online content.
- The Office will take a more active role in reviewing copyright compliance and handling infringements, rather than serving mainly in an advisory and coordinating capacity.
- Rights holders may have a clearer, more direct enforcement route, particularly for online infringement.
- Digital platforms and other intermediary service providers should monitor how these powers are implemented, including any procedural guidance that follows.
In more detail
1. A more direct enforcement role
- Under the previous framework, the Copyright Office mainly provided expert opinions and coordinated with the competent authorities on enforcement matters. The new Office is expressly responsible for leading copyright compliance reviews and handling infringements.
- Its organisational structure has also been revised to support this role. A dedicated Copyright Management and Enforcement Division has been established, underlining the shift towards active enforcement.
2. Authority to require removal or blocking of infringing online content
- Decision 2558 expressly empowers the Office to require intermediary service providers to remove or block access to digital content that infringes copyright or related rights.
- For rights holders, this may offer a faster and more direct way to address online infringement. It may also help close the enforcement gap created by the dissolution of the inspectorate authorities.
- Digital platforms, hosting providers and other intermediaries may face more regulatory engagement and closer scrutiny of their copyright compliance measures.
Conclusion
Decision 2558 marks an important change in Vietnam's copyright enforcement framework. The Office now has a more direct enforcement mandate, including express authority to seek the removal or blocking of infringing online content. This should strengthen the Government's ability to address copyright infringement in the digital environment.
The framework is still taking shape. Existing administrative enforcement rules and procedures may need to be updated to reflect the Office's expanded functions, and the practical reach of its powers should become clearer as they are used. We will monitor implementation and share further updates as relevant guidance and practice develop.
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Hoa Tran, Partner, and Anh Thu Nguyen, Associate, have co-authored this legal update.
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