Update: 17.09.2026
What businesses need to know about commercial music use, copyright and compliance.
ADK Vietnam Lawyers is pleased to share this article as part of our knowledge-sharing collaboration with USEA Global, featuring insights from our Managing Partner, Mr. Le Tien Dat (Daniel), on the legal considerations surrounding commercial music use in Vietnam.
Music is often considered a routine part of customer experience, particularly in the F&B and hospitality sectors. However, the use of music in commercial settings may give rise to important copyright and compliance considerations.
In this article, Mr. Daniel discusses three key issues that businesses should consider when using music in their commercial operations:
The article forms part of the “Knowledge Sharing” content series, a collaborative initiative between USEA Global and ADK Vietnam Lawyers aimed at sharing practical legal perspectives with the business community.
KNOWLEDGE SHARING
When Background Music Becomes a Legal Question in Vietnam
Music has long been treated as a minor operational detail in F&B and hospitality. But according to Attorney Le Tien Dat of ADK Vietnam Lawyers, it’s actually one of the most underestimated compliance risks in Vietnam today.
As part of a knowledge-sharing collaboration between USEA Vietnam and ADK Vietnam Lawyers, Attorney Le Tien Dat breaks down three issues businesses commonly overlook:
Paying for a platform does not necessarily mean having the right to play music commercially
Many businesses feel secure after subscribing to licensed international music platforms. However, the terms of these platforms are usually limited to personal use. Commercial use in a business setting may trigger separate legal obligations under Vietnamese law.
AI-generated music does not automatically mean risk-free
Before deploying AI-generated tracks, businesses should consider at least three factors: whether the relevant tool’s license permits commercial use, how much creative input came from a human, and what training data the AI relied on.
Prevention always costs less than remediation
Administrative fines can reach VND 40 million for organizations, in addition to potential retroactive royalty payments and the risk of prolonged disputes. In one real case, a company paid VND 3.3 billion in damages for music copyright infringement.
According to Attorney Le Tien Dat, the appropriate approach is not necessarily to avoid royalty costs, but rather to treat them as an investment in the commercial value that music brings to a brand.
About the Knowledge-Sharing Collaboration
This article is part of the “Knowledge Sharing” content series, a collaborative initiative between USEA Global and ADK Vietnam Lawyers bringing practical legal perspectives to the business community.
Originally published by USEA Global:
When Background Music Becomes a Legal Question in Vietnam
This article is reproduced on the ADK Vietnam Lawyers website with the permission of USEA Global.
