Online game license – What you need to know

An online game license is a legal document issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications to businesses that submit applications and meet the conditions for online game business. Online game licenses include: (i) G1 online game license (ii) G2 online game license (iii) G3 online game license (iv) G4 online game license.

1. Legal Basis

Specific legal documents related to online game licenses are:

• Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP of the Government issued on July 15, 2013, on the management, provision, and use of Internet services and online information;
• Decree No. 27/2018/ND-CP of the Government issued on March 01, 2018, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP dated July 15, 2013, of the Government on the management, provision, and use of Internet services and online information.
• Circular No. 24/2014/TT-BTTTT dated December 29, 2014, of the Ministry of Information and Communications detailing a number of articles of Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP dated July 15, 2013, of the Government on the management, provision, and use of internet services and online information regarding online video games.
• Decree 150/2020/ND-CP dated February 03, 2020, on administrative penalties in the fields of postal services, telecommunications, radio frequencies, information technology, and electronic transactions.

2. Types of Online Game Licenses

According to Vietnamese law, there are 04 types of online game licenses as follows:

2.1. G1 Online Game License

A G1 online game license (G1 video game license) is a type of license granted to businesses operating video games with simultaneous interaction among multiple players through the enterprise’s game server system.

2.2. G2 Online Game License

A G2 online game license is granted for games with interaction between players and the enterprise’s server.

2.3. G3 Online Game License

A G3 online game license is granted for games with interaction among multiple players but without interaction between players and the enterprise’s server.

2.4. G4 Online Game License

A G4 online game license is granted for games downloaded via the network, without interaction between players or between players and the enterprise’s server.

3. Conditions for applying for an online game license

3.1. Conditions for applying for a G1 online game license

• Is an enterprise established in accordance with Vietnamese law, with the business line of providing online video game services already published on the National Business Registration Portal of the enterprise;
• Has registered the domain name used to provide services;
• Has sufficient financial, technical, and personnel capacity appropriate to the scale of operations and in accordance with the corresponding provisions in Articles 32a, 32b of Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP;
• Technical conditions specified in Clause 1, Article 32 of Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP are understood as follows:
• The system of equipment providing online video game services for all games of the enterprise must ensure the following conditions:
• Capable of storing and fully updating players’ personal information in accordance with Article 6 of Circular 24/2014/TT-BTTTT;
• The payment management system for the enterprise’s video games must be located in Vietnam and connected with Vietnamese payment support service providers, ensuring accurate, complete updates and storage, and allowing players to look up detailed information about their payment accounts;
• Manage player’s playtime from 00h00 to 24h00 daily and ensure that the total playtime of all G1 video games from a single enterprise for each player under 18 years old does not exceed 180 minutes in 24 hours each day;
• Display the age classification results for all video games provided by the enterprise when introducing, advertising games, providing video game services; include a warning message “Playing for more than 180 minutes a day will adversely affect health” in an easily recognizable position on the game forum and on the player’s device screen throughout the game.
• Have a plan to ensure service quality and safeguard players’ rights.
• Have technical and professional measures to manage game forum content (if any), in compliance with Circular No. 09/2014/TT-BTTTT dated August 19, 2014, of the Ministry of Information and Communications detailing the management, provision, and use of information on websites and social networks.
• Have a backup plan for equipment and connectivity, and a data backup plan to ensure system safety in case of incidents.
• Have a plan to ensure information safety, security, and the confidentiality of players’ personal information.
• Have measures to ensure information safety and security.

3.2. Conditions for applying for G2, G3, G4 online game licenses

The conditions for granting G2, G3, G4 online game licenses are as follows:

• Is an enterprise established in accordance with Vietnamese law, holding a Certificate of Business Registration for the business line of providing online video game services;
• Has registered the domain name used to provide services in cases where services are provided via the Internet;
• Possesses sufficient financial, technical, organizational, and personnel capacity to provide video game services commensurate with the scale of operations;
• Organizational and personnel conditions specified in Clause 1, Article 33 of Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP are understood as follows:
• Has a head office with a clear address and contact phone number.
• Has personnel responsible for managing online video game provision activities with a university degree or higher.
• Has a team of video game administration personnel appropriate to the scale of operations and the type of service provided.
• Has measures to ensure information safety and security.
• Technical conditions specified in Clause 1, Article 33 of Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP are understood as follows:
• The payment management system for the enterprise’s video games (if any) must be located in Vietnam and connected with Vietnamese payment support service providers, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and allowing players to look up detailed information about their payment accounts.
• Has a plan to ensure service quality and players’ rights.

4. Regulations on administrative penalties for issuing online games without applying for a license

According to the provisions of Decree 150/2020/ND-CP dated February 03, 2020, on administrative penalties in the fields of postal services, telecommunications, radio frequencies, information technology, and electronic transactions, it is stipulated: “A fine of from 70,000,000 VND to 100,000,000 VND shall be imposed for one of the following acts:

• Providing G2 or G3 or G4 video game services without a Certificate of Registration for providing online video game services;
• Providing G1 video game services without an Approval Decision for G1 video game content and script.
  A fine of from 150,000,000 VND to 170,000,000 VND shall be imposed for providing G1 video game services without an Online Video Game Service License”.

Additionally, the form of revocation or suspension of the G1 license may be applied in specific cases.