The Vietnam Center for Protection of Music Copyrights’ (VCPMC) annual conference provided some insights into copyright issues in Vietnam. VCPMC is part of and follows the rules of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC).
VCPMC announced total royalty collections of 393 billion VND ($16.7 million) in 2024 up nearly 15%. Using international software systems, royalties are calculated and distributed quarterly to authors and rights holders. Most of the royalties came from digital uses on music platforms.
But collections are still challenging. Especially they mentioned concerns over copyrights in live performances with violations in domestic and international shows. Several well-known promoters hosted live events over many dates, without paying royalties. VCPMC is taking legal action against May Lang Thang who ran more than 300 unlicensed performances. While their shows helped revive the live music scene after COVID, and they developed a large social media following, royalties remain unpaid. The same goes for Lululola, which ran hundreds of shows and iME's 2024 Chanyeol Live Tour on 28 September 2024, neither of which apparently secured the required licenses.
Part of the problem is the complex permits required for recurring performances. Vietnam in many areas has an ever more sophisticated copyright system. Sometimes too much bureaucracy gets in the way however. The country’s strong artistic traditions are helping drive change.
Comments