Unauthorized File-Sharing and Pirated CDs without Effective Copyright Enforcement 1 Unauthorized File-Sharing and Pirated CDs without Effective Copyright Enforcement: A Vietnam Case Study1

Abstract: At present, Vietnam is regarded as the worst country regarding copyright infringement. China, joining WTO in 2001, has since implemented strict copyright measures. Even though Vietnam has laws for intellectual property rights, enforcement is almost non-existent. We investigated how unauthorized P2P file-sharing affects copyright infringement in Vietnam. We assumed, before visiting Vietnam, that P2P file-sharing was more popular than pirated CDs and DVDs. However, few people knew of its existence. Even when they did, they were unwilling to use it. Another astonishing fact was how pirated CDs play a role in promoting singers who had relied on stage performances. Singers were not eager to support copyright enforcement. In this paper we consider these situations and explain how such behaviors are rational in Vietnam