Are Topographic Maps Protected by Copyright?

Is a topographic drawing eligible for copyright protection?

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have a topographic drawing that I would like to register for copyright protection. Is a topographic drawing subject to copyright protection?

Answer:

According to Article 14 of the Intellectual Property Law 2005, amended by Clause 5, Article 1 of the amended Intellectual Property Law 2009, the types of works eligible for copyright protection include:

Literary, artistic, and scientific works protected include:

- .........

- Architectural works;

- Drawings, diagrams, maps, drawings related to topography, architecture, and scientific works;

- Folklore literary and artistic works;

- Computer programs and data compilations.

Thus, based on the above provisions, a topographic drawing is also an object eligible for copyright protection.

Can an interview be eligible for copyright protection?

I would like to ask, according to intellectual property law, can an interview be eligible for copyright protection? Thank you.

Answer:

According to Point c, Clause 1, Article 14 of the Intellectual Property Law 2005, journalistic works are among the types of works eligible for copyright protection.

Journalistic work as defined in this Article is a work with independent content and complete structure, including genres: reportage, quick notes, reports, interviews, reflections, investigations, commentary, editorials, treatises, journalistic features, and other journalistic genres intended for publication and broadcast in print, spoken, visual, electronic newspapers, or other means (Article 9 of Decree 22/2018/ND-CP).

Therefore, an interview with independent content and a complete structure can be eligible for copyright protection.

Can decrees issued by the Government of Vietnam be eligible for copyright protection?

I would like to ask the lawyer: Decrees issued by the Government of Vietnam are legal documents, so are they eligible for copyright protection? Please advise.

Answer:

According to Clause 2, Article 15 of the Intellectual Property Law 2005, the following subjects are not eligible for copyright protection:

- Purely news of the day.

- Legal documents, administrative documents, documents in the judicial sector, and official translations of these documents.

Thus, according to the above provisions, legal documents such as decrees issued by the Government of Vietnam are not eligible for copyright protection.

Respectfully!