Unlicensed Windows and Office software: key legal and security risks
- Evelyn Carter
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Using cracked software has long been warned about due to potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities. However, from a legal perspective, unauthorized installation of pirated operating systems or office applications for profit can lead to heavy penalties, including criminal liability.
What is the current status of technology copyright enforcement?
According to statistical data as of late May 2026, ministries, sectors, and local authorities have tightened inspection and aggressively handled over 1,400 cases related to intellectual property infringement.
Among the detected violations:
Nearly 1,200 cases were resolved through administrative measures.
Dozens of serious cases led to criminal prosecutions.
Total administrative fines collected reached nearly 13 billion VND, while the total value of the infringing goods involved was recorded at nearly 36 billion VND.
This reality demonstrates that the unauthorized installation of widely used software such as Windows or Office for profit is being strictly monitored.
What criminal penalties do individuals face for installing pirated Windows and Office?
Individuals who copy or distribute copies of operating systems and office software without the consent of the copyright owner can be prosecuted under Article 225 of the 2015 Criminal Code (as amended) for the "Crime of infringing upon copyright and related rights". The penalties are applied based on the specific scale and value of damage caused:
Basic penalty bracket: a fine ranging from 50 million to 300 million VND, or non-custodial reform for up to 3 years. This applies to violations committed on a commercial scale, or those generating illicit profits from 50 million to under 300 million VND, or causing damages to the owner from 100 million to under 500 million VND, or involving infringing goods valued from 100 million to under 500 million VND.
Aggravated penalty bracket: A fine ranging from 300 million to 1 billion VND, or imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years. This penalty is triggered if the offense involves specific criteria: organized crime; committing the offense 2 or more times; obtaining illicit profits of 300 million VND or more; causing losses to the owner of 500 million VND or more, or involving infringing items valued at 500 million VND or more.
Additional penalties: Offenders may also face an additional fine between 20 million and 200 million VND, alongside a ban from holding specific positions or practicing certain professions for 1 to 5 years.
How are the administrative fines for this violation structured?
In cases where the unauthorized installation of unlicensed software does not fully meet the criteria for criminal prosecution, violators will face administrative sanctions. Pursuant to Article 16 of Decree 341/2025/NĐ-CP, the fine amounts for individuals are classified progressively as outlined in the table below:
Illicit profits obtained | Damages caused or value of infringing goods | Applicable fine range |
Under 10 million VND | Under 20 million VND | 5 - 10 million VND |
From 10 to under 20 million VND | From 20 to under 40 million VND | 10 - 20 million VND |
From 20 to under 30 million VND | From 40 to under 60 million VND | 20 - 30 million VND |
From 30 to under 50 million VND | From 60 to under 100 million VND | 30 - 50 million VND |
Special note: If the violating entity is an organization, the applicable fine will be doubled compared to the amount imposed on an individual.
In addition to financial penalties, violating individuals and organizations must execute remedial actions, including forcefully removing or deleting all original versions and copies of the infringing software from telecommunications and Internet environments. If the violation generated any profits, the entire illegal amount must be returned to the copyright holder.
Solutions to build a “digital shield” for enterprises
Using and installing software without proper licenses not only introduces critical security flaws into systems but also exposes individuals and businesses to severe legal liabilities, ranging from massive financial losses to imprisonment.
To thoroughly mitigate these risks and maintain strict regulatory compliance, organizations need a strategy to audit and standardize their software systems. By integrating advanced cybersecurity monitoring services from IPSIP Vietnam, businesses can detect anomalous login behaviors in real time, shatter the attackers' execution chain at the perimeter, and maintain the absolute integrity of internal data systems
IPSIP Vietnam's management and monitoring systems have successfully passed the most rigorous audits to achieve top international information security certifications, including ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II.
By providing 24/7 non-stop core services - such as the Security Operations Center (SOC), Network Operations Center (NOC), and a dedicated, on-duty IT Support/Helpdesk team - IPSIP commits to directly responding to and intercepting any intrusion attempts, day or night. Partnering with these leading technical minds will help businesses completely eliminate legal and compliance risks, freeing up valuable resources to focus entirely on growth objectives.
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