Vietnam implements new intellectual property and royalty regulations

New regulations in Vietnam regarding intellectual property and creative royalties are set to take effect on September 1, 2026, under Decree 287/2026/ND-CP. The decree mandates that the exploitation of news articles must pay at least 20% of the creative copyright fee. In the music industry, royalty distributions are specified as 30% for lyricists and 70% for composers.

The decree also outlines rules for literary adaptations. When a literary work is adapted into a stage script, the adapter receives 70% of the royalty rate applicable to a script of similar scale and genre, with the remainder going to the original author or owner. For adaptations between different types of stage performances, the adapter receives 40%.

In a related discussion at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, experts addressed the challenges of transforming cultural heritage and creative products into liquid intellectual property assets. Participants emphasized the need for a cohesive chain that moves from creation and rights establishment to valuation, commercialization, and reinvestment, noting that current industry silos often hinder the flow of capital in the cultural sector.