Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung, acting on the prime minister’s behalf, signed Dispatch No. 38 on May 5 directing ministries, agencies and local authorities to step up enforcement against intellectual property infringement.
The government said intellectual property violations remained prevalent in some sectors and localities despite recent enforcement efforts, affecting the business environment and the legitimate rights and interests of individuals and companies.
Authorities have been instructed to launch a nationwide enforcement campaign from May 7 to May 30.
The Ministry of Public Security will lead investigations into serious intellectual property offences, including copyright, trademark and geographical indication violations.
Police were also ordered to dismantle major websites and the networks behind them, particularly those offering pirated films, music, mobile games and television programmes in Vietnamese and foreign languages.
The Ministry of National Defence will direct border and coast guard forces to coordinate with police and local authorities to help prevent related violations through border and maritime routes.
The Supreme People’s Procuracy and Supreme People’s Court were asked to accelerate the prosecution and adjudication of intellectual property cases, with a number of high-profile cases to be prioritised as a deterrent.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will inspect software copyright compliance at businesses and oversee enforcement involving films, music, television content and video games online.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade and local authorities were directed to intensify inspections targeting counterfeit trademark goods and industrial property infringements, while customs authorities will strengthen checks on imports and exports and suspend clearance where intellectual property violations are suspected.
Authorities were instructed to increase enforcement actions by at least 20 per cent from May 2025 levels.
Ministries, agencies and local authorities must submit daily reports on serious cases during the campaign, with a final report due on May 31.
After May 30, authorities are expected to continue targeted enforcement measures on a regular basis.
Provincial and municipal authorities were ordered to establish inter-agency task forces led by the heads of local People’s Committees to oversee enforcement efforts.
