Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, WTO and other international organisations in Geneva presents Vietnam’s signed WPPT document to WIPO Director General Daren Tang (Photo: VNA)

The WPPT deals with the rights of performers and producers of phonograms, particularly in the digital environment. It is the provision of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and the Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations.

Like the WIPO Copyright Treaty, the WPPT was created to address changes in digital technology and communications, particularly the distribution of digitally protected works over the Internet.

The WPPT was created to update WIPO copyright treaties and regulations, primarily with the rapidly evolving development of new markets, distribution, methods of use, and types of works.

The WPPT was adopted by 100 countries in Geneva in 1996. Vietnam’s accession to the WPPT Treaty will strengthen the protection of rights related to performers and producers of phonograms in the digital environment and is in line with Vietnam’s commitments under new-generation free trade agreements signed recently. 

WIPO Director General Daren Tang congratulated Vietnam on joining the WPPT, emphasizing that the accession is a testament to Vietnam's strong response to its commitments to the global intellectual property system, and will help to strengthen the protection of rights.

He said famous Vietnamese artists and singers like My Tam, Đen Vâu, and Sơn Tùng M-TP have played a part in the Vietnamese economy and that the creative industry’s role in national economic growth is growing. Tang said joining the WPPT will create jobs and opportunities in Vietnam’s creative industry. 

Following this accession to the WPPT Treaty, the entertainment industry will have to adapt to global trends and take advantage of this chance to play a bigger role in national development.