Solutions to protect the rights and benefits of writers, publishers and readers were discussed at a seminar held by the Vietnamese Reproduction Rights Organisation (Vietrro) in Hanoi on June 16.

At the seminar the participants pointed out a number of difficulties in upholding the law on intellectual property rights and the international treaties that protect writers’ rights as well as the public’s awareness on the issue.

They emphasised the need to set up an association to protect the rights of writers and a non-fiction writers association.

The seminar heard speeches on how schools use non-fiction and the challenges in coping with illegal reproductions of protected work.

Representatives from the Norwegian Non-Fiction Writers and Translators Association (NFF) briefed the participants on the role non-fiction writers and translators associations play around the world.

Non-fiction includes autobiograph ies, novels, diaries, letters, memoirs , TV programmes, dictionaries, articles, natural and scientific works, textbooks and religious books.

According to figures from the General Statistics Office and the Publishing Department, the number of published textbooks, including social sciences and technical books has accounted for 60 percent of the country’s total over the past 13 years.

Vietnam also now has more than 800 magazines and newspapers./.