Extending United States Copyright Protections to the Works of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

This proclamation extends U.S. copyright protections to works by Vietnamese nationals and works first published in Vietnam, effective December 23, 1998, the date a bilateral Copyright Agreement entered into force. It also restores copyright protection for certain qualifying works and directs the Secretary of State to notify Vietnam of the effective date.

Federal Register Open PDF 63 FR 71571

Impact dates

Dec 23, 1998
Copyright protections and restored protections take effect; Copyright Agreement enters into force

Key directives

Extend copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 104(b)(5) to Vietnamese works effective December 23, 1998
Extend restored copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 104A(g) to Vietnamese works effective December 23, 1998
Request Secretary of State to notify Vietnam that protections take effect December 23, 1998

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · Department of State

Timeline

Immediate

Copyright protections and restored protections take effect for Vietnamese works as of December 23, 1998
Secretary of State requested to notify Vietnam of effective date

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

Ongoing bilateral copyright relations between U.S. and Vietnam
Potential enforcement and dispute resolution under the Copyright Agreement

Risks & tensions

Scope of 'restored copyright protection' may create uncertainty for parties who relied on works being in public domain
Enforcement of Vietnamese copyright protections for U.S. works in Vietnam depends on Vietnamese compliance, not guaranteed by this proclamation