The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court has recently accepted the civil case of copyright dispute between Tri Viet Publisher and two language schools in Ho Chi Minh City.

Nguyen Van Phuoc, Tri Viet's director with one of the pirated publications during a press conference held on February 21 in Ho Chi Minh, Photo: Tuoitre

The publishing company has accused Vietnam Australia Society English Center (VAS) and Australian International English (AIE) of allegedly infringing copyright on a number of English textbooks and CDs that belong to Tri Viet.

Known better under the English name First News, Tri Viet has been a respected name in the domestic publishing industry for years, known for putting out high quality translations of foreign books, as well as language teaching and learning materials.

The company announced last July that many of its publications had been pirated, especially by English language schools in Ho Chi Minh City.

In a press conference on Tuesday, said that the case began last November when the company filed it through Poor People Law Office, its legal representative.

Although there are other schools who allegedly violate its copyright, Tri Viet said it chose to go after VAS and AIE first as their alleged violations were the most serious, of which it also obtained the strongest evidences.

Phuoc said the publisher will request compensation of VND 760 million (US$ 36,520) from these two schools (VND 380 million each). According to its lawyer, the case could last at least 18 months.

Le Hoang, a senior publishing manager who was also present at the conference, said that he welcomed Tri Viet’s initiative as the case would no doubt alarm lawmakers and warn perpetrators, especially when pirating of intellectual works remains an unresolved issue in Vietnam.

Source: Tuoitre