Draft law proposes flagship national publishing and media organisations
VOV.VN - The Government has proposed amendments to the Law on Publishing aimed at modernising the publishing industry in the digital era, including the establishment of a legal framework for national flagship publishing and media organisations capable of operating across multiple platforms.
Presenting the draft law to the National Assembly on August 5, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh said the current Law on Publishing, which has been in force for more than 13 years, no longer adequately reflects rapid advances in digital transformation or the development of the content industry.
The proposed amendments are intended to institutionalise the Party's policies, remove regulatory bottlenecks and create a legal environment that supports the publishing industry's development in the new era.
Legal basis for flagship publishing and media organisations
One of the draft law's most notable proposals is the creation of a legal framework for national flagship publishing and media organisations.
According to the minister, the State will adopt policies to support the development of major publishing and media organisations capable of operating across multiple platforms and producing a wide range of content and publishing products.
The proposal is intended to strengthen cooperation within the publishing industry, concentrate resources, improve competitiveness and foster the development of large-scale organisations capable of building digital publishing ecosystems and expanding Vietnam’s content industry.
Under the draft, national flagship publishing and media organisations would operate across multiple platforms and product lines, with affiliated public service units or member enterprises engaged in publishing and media activities. These organisations would also be eligible for special financial mechanisms approved by competent authorities.
The draft further expands opportunities for cooperation by allowing technology companies, media enterprises, educational institutions, libraries and creative content organisations to participate more actively in the publishing value chain.
Repositioning publishing in the digital economy
The proposed legislation also redefines the role of publishing in Vietnam's development.
Rather than being viewed solely as a cultural and ideological activity, publishing would also be recognized as an economic and technology-driven sector, an important component of the cultural industries, a pillar of the national knowledge infrastructure and a key instrument for strengthening Vietnam's soft power.
The draft also shifts regulatory thinking from administrative control toward a development-oriented approach.
It proposes greater reliance on digital technologies, data-driven governance and post-publication oversight instead of traditional pre-publication controls, while streamlining administrative procedures to create a more favourable business environment.
In addition, the draft strengthens the legal framework for electronic publishing, digital platforms, distribution intermediaries, industry databases and the application of artificial intelligence.
It also introduces stronger measures to protect copyright in the digital environment and tighten regulations against illegal printing, unauthorised reprints, counterfeit publications and online copyright infringement.
Lawmakers seek greater clarity
Reviewing the draft, Nguyen Dac Vinh, chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Social Affairs, expressed general support for revising the law.
However, the committee recommended further review of provisions governing digital publishing to ensure consistency with existing legislation, particularly regarding cross-border digital platforms.
Regarding the proposed flagship publishing and media organisations, the committee called for clearer provisions on governance, rights and responsibilities, as well as clearer distinctions between these organisations and the larger flagship publishing and media groups mentioned elsewhere in the draft.
The committee also urged the government to further refine policies promoting reading culture, digital transformation and the cultural industries, while clarifying funding sources and implementation mechanisms for incentives supporting the publishing industry.
NA examines draft law on prevention and combating proliferation of WMD
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