What Is Copyright in Vietnam: Moral and Economic Rights

Copyright is the set of rights that Vietnamese law grants to the author of an original literary, artistic or scientific work. It arises automatically as soon as the work is created and fixed in a tangible form, and it is divided into two groups: moral rights and economic rights.

Moral rights

Moral rights protect the personal connection between an author and their work. They generally include the right to:

• Title the work;
• Be identified as the author, with the author's name shown on copies and when the work is used;
• Protect the integrity of the work against distortion or modification that harms the author's honour or reputation.

Certain moral rights are closely tied to the author and are treated differently from purely commercial interests, which affects whether and how they can be transferred.

Economic rights

Economic rights allow the owner to exploit the work commercially or to authorise others to do so. They typically cover reproducing the work, making derivative works, distributing copies, and communicating or performing the work to the public. These rights can be licensed or assigned, which is how authors and businesses monetise creative works.

Ownership and duration

The author is usually the first owner, but economic rights often belong to an employer or commissioning party where the work is made under a contract, subject to the terms agreed. Economic rights are protected for a defined term set by the Law on Intellectual Property, after which the work enters the public domain, while some moral rights are protected indefinitely.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register to have copyright?

No. Copyright exists automatically on creation. Registration is optional and serves as evidence of ownership.

Can I sell my copyright?

Economic rights can generally be assigned or licensed. Some moral rights remain with the author and are not freely transferable.

Who owns copyright in work I create for my employer?

Where a work is created under an employment or commission arrangement, economic rights commonly belong to the employer or commissioning party, subject to the contract.

How LTV Law helps

LTV Law advises authors and businesses on who owns which rights, drafts assignment and licence terms, and records copyright where useful; to clarify your position, contact our team.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.