Phan Đinh Tùng publicly disputes the copyright of the national hit song "Khúc hát mừng sinh nhật" (Birthday Song).
Singer Phan Dinh Tung has officially spoken out about the intellectual property dispute related to his song "Khuc hat mung sinh nhat" (Birthday Song), which has garnered 309 million views, and five studio albums associated with his career.
On the afternoon of May 21st, singer Phan Dinh Tung unexpectedly released information regarding copyright and related rights issues for the song "Khuc Hat Mung Sinh Nhat" (Birthday Song). This song is considered a "national hit" in Vietnam, currently reaching 309 million views on YouTube after 8 years since the release of its music video.
According to the singer, he decided to break his silence after years of patience in order to protect his legal rights and interests. The dispute is not limited to a single song but also includes five representative albums from his career: Hạt nhân, Tùng chung, Tùng Thuận, Tùng Phong, and Tùng Teen.
Disagreements over commercial exploitation and revenue from digital music
Phan Dinh Tung's side stated that significant differences exist between him and several individuals and organizations regarding the establishment, exploitation, and management of intellectual property rights for the aforementioned works. These conflicts have led to a prolonged delay in revenue sharing across various international digital music platforms.
Notably, advertising revenue from the music video "Happy Birthday Song" on the singer's official YouTube channel was initially attributed to a related party during a period when the video achieved extremely high viewership. Following a complaint process and the submission of legal documents, some intellectual property rights were restored; however, the case remains unresolved.
Ready to take legal action.
Despite numerous attempts at communication via email and expressions of willingness to engage in dialogue to find a civilized and fair solution, the parties have yet to reach a final agreement. Currently, revenue from these works is being temporarily held by distribution systems pending a legally binding ruling from the competent authority.
Phan Dinh Tung affirmed that if the outstanding issues continue to be not adequately resolved, he will take the necessary legal steps in accordance with the law. The male singer emphasized that this public announcement is an official statement to protect the fruits of his artistic labor.
"Happy Birthday Song," composed and performed by Phan Dinh Tung himself, was first released in 2004. With its catchy melody and easy-to-remember lyrics, the song has become an indispensable part of birthday parties for generations of Vietnamese audiences over the past two decades.
