G1 Online Game License in Vietnam

Online video game services (referred to as G1 online games) are the provision of the ability for players to access the network and play video games. Accordingly, enterprises wishing to provide G1 online game services or other types of game services must meet the licensing conditions as prescribed in Decree 147/2024/ND-CP. In the article below, Viet An Law Firm will provide information on the conditions and procedures for providing G1 online game services according to current legal regulations.

What is a G1 Online Game?

According to Clause 1, Article 37 of Decree 147/2024/ND-CP, G1 online games are defined as video games with interaction between multiple players via the game server system of the enterprise.

Accordingly, to release G1 online games on the network, the enterprise must have a G1 Online Game License on the network and a Decision on releasing video games on the network.

Conditions for granting G1 Online Game License in Vietnam

Based on Clause 1, Article 39 of Decree 147/2024/ND-CP, to be granted a G1 Online Game License on the network, the enterprise needs to meet the following conditions:

• Being an enterprise established in accordance with the laws of Vietnam, having the business line of providing online video game services published on the National Business Registration Portal of the enterprise; having a head office with a clear and contactable address and telephone number;
• Having registered the domain name used to provide the service;
• Having sufficient financial, organizational, and personnel capacity for video game administration suitable to the scale of the enterprise’s operations;
• Having a system of technical equipment to connect payment with payment service provider organizations and intermediary payment service provider organizations in accordance with the provisions of law;
• Having a system of technical equipment ensuring the full storage and update of information of players in Vietnam. Implementing the authentication of player accounts by mobile phone numbers in Vietnam, ensuring that only authenticated accounts can participate in playing games; in case the player is under 16 years old, the parent or guardian under civil law registers the account using the information of the parent or guardian under civil law and is responsible for supervising and managing the playing time and game content of the player under 18 years old accessing; implementing the deletion of player information after the storage period expires as prescribed;
• Having a system of technical equipment ensuring the management of playing time during the day of players under 18 years old not exceeding 60 minutes for each game but not exceeding 180 minutes a day for all games for players under 18 years old provided by the enterprise;
• Having a system of technical equipment ensuring the continuous display of game classification results by age for all games provided by the enterprise when introducing, advertising, and releasing; having warning information with the content “Playing more than 180 minutes a day will badly affect health” in a recognizable position on the game’s forum (if any) and on the player’s device screen at a frequency of 30 minutes/time during the game playing process;
• Having a system of technical equipment ensuring the management of content exchanged and shared in the game and on the game’s forum (if any) as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 28 of Decree 147/2024/ND-CP;
• Having measures to manage content and player account information ensuring the full storage, continuous and accurate update of information about the player’s service usage process;
• Having a plan to ensure network information safety, information security, service quality, and legitimate rights and interests of players;
• Having a backup plan for equipment and connection, and a data backup plan to ensure system safety when incidents occur.

Application dossier for G1 Online Game License in Vietnam

According to Article 40 of Decree 147/2024/ND-CP, the dossier requesting the grant of a G1 Online Game License includes the following documents:

• Application form for the License according to Form No. 29 in the appendix issued with Decree 147/2024/ND-CP;
• A valid copy of the enterprise registration certificate or investment registration certificate, or a valid copy of another equivalent certificate or license granted before the effective date of the Law on Investment No. 67/2014/QH13 and the Law on Enterprise No. 59/2020/QH14;
• Scheme for provision of G1 online game services on the network certified by the legal representative of the enterprise or the head of the enterprise requesting the license.
• Certified true copy of the server lease contract;
• Certified true copy of the domain name certificate;
• Degrees of the person in charge of technology and the person in charge of G1 content.

Procedures for providing G1 online game services

Article 41 of Decree 147/2024/ND-CP prescribes the process and procedures for granting the G1 Online Game License on the network as follows:

Step 1: Submission of dossier

The enterprise proceeds to prepare and submit 01 set of dossier requesting the grant of G1 Online Game License on the network via one of the following forms:

• Submit directly at the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information;
• Via postal service to the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information;
• Submit on the Online Public Service System of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information.

Note: In case of submission on the online public service system of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, there must be a digital signature as prescribed by the law on electronic transactions.

Step 2: Review and appraisal of dossier

• Within 20 days from the date of receiving a valid dossier, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information shall consider and grant the G1 Online Game License on the network according to Form No. 30 in the Appendix issued with Decree 147/2024/ND-CP.
• In case of refusal, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information shall respond in writing and state the reasons clearly.

Step 3: Receiving results

The enterprise comes to receive the results according to the appointment slip at the place of dossier submission.

In case of not being granted the license, the enterprise receives a written response stating the reasons from the competent authority.

Amendment, supplement, extension, re-issuance of G1 Online Game License in Vietnam

Amendment, supplement of G1 Online Game License

Deadline for submission of amendment, supplement dossier

The enterprise carries out procedures to request amendment or supplement of the content of the G1 Online Game License within 10 days from the change of the following contents:

• Name of the enterprise;
• Name of the legal representative of the enterprise;
• Address of the head office, transaction office;
• Address of server placement or lease.

The enterprise may simultaneously perform the procedure for requesting amendment and supplement of the license with the procedure for requesting amendment and supplement of the decision approving the content and script of the G1 online game already granted.

Dossier requesting amendment, supplement of G1 Online Game License content includes the following documents:

• Written request for amendment or supplement of the content of the G1 Online Game License, clearly stating the content and reasons for amendment or supplement;
• Documents and papers proving the reasons for amendment or supplement.

Form of submission:

• Submit directly;
• Submit via postal service;
• Via the Internet.

Procedures for amendment, supplement of G1 Online Game License

• The enterprise submits 01 original dossier requesting amendment or supplement of the content of the G1 Online Game License to the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information.
• Within 10 working days from the receipt of a valid dossier, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information considers granting the amended, supplemented license. In case of refusal to grant the license, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information shall respond in writing stating the reasons clearly. The term of the amended, supplemented license is the remaining term of the old license.
• Upon receiving the notification, the receiving agency is responsible for sending a confirmation paper to the enterprise within 07 working days from the date of receiving the notification.

Re-issuance of G1 Online Game License in Vietnam

Cases for re-issuance of G1 Online Game License:

The license is lost or damaged and can no longer be used.

Procedures for re-issuance of G1 Online Game License in Vietnam:

• In case the G1 Online Game License is lost or damaged and can no longer be used, the enterprise sends an application for re-issuance of the license to the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information via one of the following forms: Submit directly, submit via postal service, or via the Internet.
• The application for re-issuance of the G1 Online Game License includes: Name and address of the enterprise; number, place of issue, date of issue of the enterprise registration certificate; number, date of issue, effective date of the granted license; reason for requesting re-issuance of the permit; commitment of the enterprise regarding the contents declared in the application;
• Within 10 working days from the date of receiving a valid application, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information considers re-issuing the license to the enterprise. In the event of refusal, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information shall respond in writing, clearly stating the reasons for the refusal.

Extension of G1 Online Game License in Vietnam

• Before the license expires, but the enterprise cannot complete the re-issuance procedures, it must carry out extension procedures if the enterprise still has a need to continue operations. Each license can only be extended 01 time, each time not exceeding 01 year;
• The enterprise sends an application for license extension and a copy of the license needing extension to the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information via one of the following forms: Submit directly, submit via postal service, or via the Internet.
• The content of the application for license extension includes: Name and address of the enterprise; number, place of issue, date of issue of the enterprise registration certificate; number, date of issue, effective date of the granted license; reason for requesting license extension; commitment of the enterprise regarding the contents declared in the application;
• Within 10 working days from the date of receiving a valid application for license extension, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information considers and decides on the license extension for the enterprise. In the event of refusal, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information shall respond in writing, clearly stating the reasons for the refusal.

Some related questions

Authority to grant G1 Online Game License

Based on Clause 2, Article 41 of Decree 147/2024/ND-CP, it is clearly stated that the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information considers and grants the G1 Online Game License on the network…

Thus, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) is the agency receiving and processing the dossier requesting the grant of G1 Online Game License on the network of the enterprise.

How long is the term of the G1 Online Game License?

According to Clause 2, Article 39 of Decree 147/2024/ND-CP, it is prescribed that “The G1 Online Game License on the network has a term according to the request of the enterprise, but not exceeding 10 years.”

Therefore, the term of the G1 Online Game License is a maximum of 10 years, or according to the proposal of the enterprise in the registration application, to ensure suitability with market and technology developments.

How is the case of providing G1 online game services without a License handled?

Based on Clause 7, Article 103 of Decree 15/2020/ND-CP, a fine ranging from 150,000,000 VND to 170,000,000 VND is imposed for the act of providing G1 online game services without a G1 Online Game License on the network.

In addition, depending on the severity of the violation, the enterprise may be subject to additional penalties and remedial measures such as confiscation of exhibits and means, Forced return of illegal profits, and forced revocation of domain names.

Service of granting G1 Online Game License in Vietnam of Viet An Law Firm

In the process of providing the service of applying for G1 Online Game License for clients, Viet An Law Firm proceeds with the following works:

• Consulting on issues related to the Registration for providing G1 online game services;
• Guiding the client to prepare the dossier for applying for the G1 Online Game License;
• Drafting dossiers and documents necessary for the Registration for providing G1 online game services;
• Representing the client to submit the dossier at the licensing agency;
• Representing the client to communicate with the specialist in charge of the dossier in case the dossier needs correction or supplementation;
• Representing the client to receive the results and hand them over to the client;

Clients wishing for further consultation on procedures for providing G1 online game services or other in-depth legal issues, please strictly contact Viet An Law Firm for the best support.