LookAtVietnam – Under new regulations, the highest fine imposed on copyright violations is 500 million dong, equivalent to US$ 27,800.

The VND500 million highest fine will be imposed in the following cases: appropriating copyrights, directly or indirectly copying shows, directly or indirectly copying visual and audio recording works, copying broadcasting programmes, appropriating related rights.

The government recently released Decree 47, raising the maximum fine for copyright infringement from 70 million to 500 million dong.

The highest fine will be imposed in the following cases: appropriating copyrights, directly or indirectly copying shows, directly or indirectly copying visual and audio recording works, copying broadcasting programmes, appropriating related rights.

The decree also stipulates supplementary forms of punishment and measures to repair damages.

Though pleased about the tougher penalty for copyright infringement, musician Pho Duc Phuong, the Vietnam Music Copyright Centre’s deputy director, said that fines should not be fixed.

“Though the fine is high, it may become inappropriate in the next few years because of inflation or the VND’s devaluation. If this happens, we will have to change the law. Instead of fixing fines, the government should fine based on a percentage of investment value or damages,” Phuong said.

Vietnam Literary Copyright Centre Director Doan Thi Lam Luyen said: “The new decree is harsher but it is insufficient if only a fine is applied. While someone who steals a chicken or a cow faces imprisonment, stealing intellectual products only results in a fine.”

The new decree will take effect on June 30, 2009.

VietNamNet/VNE