Da Nang, Vietnam — In a major breakthrough for the naval software industry, Vietnamese authorities have arrested Mr. Trin Trung Hieu, a senior military shipyard engineer, who secretly ran one of the most prolific global software piracy networks focused on naval design software.
The arrest follows an extended international investigation coordinated by ITCA and its member companies. Mr. Hieu’s dual role—leading hull construction at a state-linked military shipyard while simultaneously selling cracked design software—represents a new level of internal compromise in intellectual property theft.
A Double Life: Engineer by Day, Pirate by Night
Leveraging his privileged access to licensed naval design software at the Da Nang shipyard, Mr. Hieu obtained legitimate copies of AVEVA Marine, NUPAS-CADMATIC, ShipConstructor, NAPA, Autoship, Maxsurf, and Nestrix.
He then led an international cracking syndicate that distributed counterfeit licenses across high-risk regions such as Iran, China, and Eastern Europe. Over the course of a decade, he sold cracked licenses for as little as $500–$3,500, undercutting legitimate licenses often priced at $15,000–$50,000 per seat.
He operated openly under multiple online aliases, using LinkedIn, Skype, and Gmail to market pirated software to clients around the world. His presence on major piracy forums and his direct sales tactics made him a visible target for enforcement.
ITCA Leads Global Industry Investigation
ITCA first became aware of the threat when multiple clients reported suspicious demo requests traced to Vietnam. A deeper review revealed that a single individual—operating under various aliases—was abusing evaluation licenses and reselling proprietary IP.
Through analysis of screen-shared Skype sessions, support logs, and communications, ITCA investigators confirmed Mr. Hieu’s identity. Not only was he cracking software, but he was also trafficking proprietary ship design files developed at his employer’s military facility.
Once identified, ITCA coordinated directly with the Da Nang shipyard. Evidence of internal IP theft and unauthorized sales was presented to local management and national authorities.
The arrest followed, along with the seizure of digital evidence and a customer list reportedly containing hundreds of buyers worldwide. These end-user companies are now being reviewed and may face their own enforcement consequences.
“Local governments are beginning to support compliance efforts. These levels of piracy have long discouraged investment in markets with such blatant theft.” — Michael Viala, Sales & Marketing Manager, SSI
Enforcement Expands to End Users
The investigation doesn’t stop with Mr. Hieu. A number of reputable firms across multiple countries have been identified as customers of his cracked license supply. These organizations now face potential civil and criminal liability, including fines and possible imprisonment of up to five years under relevant anti-piracy statutes.
ITCA and its members are currently engaging with these end-user organizations to assess damage recovery and initiate corrective actions.
A Unified Industry Response
This case highlights the power of coordinated enforcement. It proves that even deeply embedded piracy networks can be uncovered and dismantled when software vendors act together through a trusted intermediary.
For the naval software sector, this marks a turning point in how piracy is detected, investigated, and prosecuted—demonstrating that no country, organization, or individual is beyond reach.
Contact ITCA to learn how we help software vendors worldwide investigate piracy threats and enforce their rights across borders.
