During a month-long nationwide crackdown, Vietnamese authorities uncovered over 2,000 intellectual property infringement cases and seized counterfeit goods valued at approximately $4.4 million. The intensive campaign successfully targeted both traditional markets and the digital space, blocking over 1,000 piracy websites and pursuing strict criminal proceedings against major offenders.
HANOI, June 24 – Vietnamese authorities uncovered more than 2,000 suspected intellectual property (IP) infringement cases during a nationwide enforcement campaign, shutting down over 1,000 piracy websites and seizing infringing goods worth more than 115 billion Vietnamese dong (approximately $4.4 million), according to the National Steering Committee 389 Office.
The results were announced following a month-long nationwide crackdown carried out under Prime Ministerial Directive No. 38, aimed at combating counterfeit goods, copyright piracy, trademark infringement, smuggling, and commercial fraud.
The figures highlight the growing scale and sophistication of intellectual property violations in Vietnam, where infringing activities increasingly extend beyond traditional markets into digital platforms and e-commerce channels.
Authorities reported a total of 2,036 cases showing signs of IP infringement during the campaign. A major focus was the online environment, where regulators intensified efforts to curb digital piracy and unauthorized content distribution.
As part of the operation, technical measures were implemented to block access to 1,073 infringing websites. Among them were 263 websites distributing pirated films, 177 websites providing unauthorized literary content, and 612 websites offering illegal television services. Authorities also identified and acted against 21 online sales platforms and websites suspected of violating industrial property rights.
The campaign underscores the increasing challenge posed by digital infringement, as counterfeiters and copyright violators continue to exploit online channels to reach consumers on a large scale while avoiding traditional enforcement mechanisms.
Administrative enforcement also remained a key component of the operation. Authorities imposed penalties in 1,616 cases, generating nearly 18 billion dong in fines for the state budget. The estimated value of seized infringing goods exceeded 115.5 billion dong, reflecting the significant commercial scale of the illicit market.
However, enforcement agencies emphasized that administrative penalties alone are often insufficient to deter repeat offenders, particularly in cases where profits from counterfeit goods and piracy substantially outweigh the cost of fines.
In response, authorities pursued criminal proceedings against serious violations. According to the report, 44 cases were handled under criminal procedures, including 27 newly initiated criminal investigations, five cases brought for prosecution, four accepted by courts, and four cases already tried.
Trademark and geographical indication violations accounted for the majority of criminal cases. Authorities recorded 37 criminal cases involving infringements of trademarks and geographical indications under Article 226 of Vietnam’s Criminal Code. Another seven cases involved serious violations of copyright and related rights under Article 225.
Trademark-related violations remained the most common category overall, accounting for 1,587 cases, significantly outnumbering copyright-related offenses.
Despite the campaign’s results, officials acknowledged that the fight against counterfeiting and intellectual property violations remains challenging. Counterfeit branded products continue to be openly traded in some traditional markets, shopping centers, and increasingly on e-commerce platforms, where sellers often employ more sophisticated methods to evade detection.
Officials stressed that anti-counterfeiting and anti-smuggling efforts must be conducted continuously and consistently, without exemptions or enforcement gaps.
Authorities also identified several obstacles, including inconsistent inter-agency coordination, delays in information sharing, and legal sanctions that may not always provide a sufficient deterrent effect.
Looking ahead, regulators plan to strengthen enforcement by expanding the use of advanced technologies. Artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain-based solutions are expected to play a greater role in product authentication, supply-chain traceability, counterfeit detection, and the monitoring of online infringement activities.
Vietnamese authorities say the goal is to create a fairer business environment for legitimate enterprises while strengthening consumer protection and reinforcing confidence in the country’s intellectual property system.
Source: An ninh Thu do; Thuong hieu & Cong Luan; Doanh nhan & Cong ly
