HCMC singer, media exec probed over YouTube copyright

In a separate case, police also prosecuted Hiep. His company operates the liveshowunicorn2988 YouTube channel in cooperation with BH Media. That channel holds nearly 1,000 videos and has attracted hundreds of millions of views. Preliminary findings showed that between 2021 and 2026, Hiep uploaded hundreds of copyrighted musical works by composers represented by the Vietnam Center for Protection of Music Copyright without authorization or royalties. More than 200 videos were found to have infringed copyright. Police said the violations caused copyright holders losses exceeding VND100 million (US$3,800) while generating hundreds of millions of dong in unlawful profits from YouTube.

The agency noted that a license to organize a live performance does not automatically grant the right to record, reproduce or upload musical works to online platforms. Under Vietnamese law, performance rights and reproduction rights are distinct from the right to communicate works to the public. Each must be authorized by the copyright holder, the owner of related rights, or an authorized collective management organization unless otherwise provided by law.

Authorities urged media companies, event organizers, content producers and digital platform operators to verify the copyright status of works, sign licensing agreements, keep documentation proving their rights to use protected content, and fully pay royalties before publishing material online. Ho Chi Minh City's Investigation Police Agency said investigations into the cases are continuing.