Vietnam has opened what its press calls the country’s first criminal case over the unauthorized use of copyrighted computer software. Investigative police of the Phu Tho Provincial Department of Public Security brought the case under Article 225 of the Penal Code (infringement of copyright and related rights), as reported on 11 June 2026.
What investigators found
- Police searched five locations in Hanoi and Phu Tho.
- A local trading company supplied 81 computers with Windows and Microsoft Office activated through cracking tools and illegal product keys.
- An educational institution had a further 350 computers showing similar signs, supplied by two Hanoi companies.
- Licenses would have cost VND 4 to 9 million (about US$151 to 341) per computer. Losses to the copyright holders are estimated at tens of billions of dong.
No charges or penalties had been reported at the time, and the investigation was being widened.
Why it matters
A criminal case means personal liability for the people involved. It also follows a May 2026 announcement by the culture ministry of inspection teams that will check whether businesses use licensed software. Companies in Vietnam that rely on unlicensed tools should expect enforcement to continue.
Source: Tuoi Tre News, 11 June 2026.
Header photo: Quangnlnhe182394, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped and toned).
