The Literary Copyright Fund (CPF) was established in June 2000 by the Việt Nam Writers' Association with assistance from the Ford Foundation. Its principal objective is to increase the level of awareness of the significance of copyright law (including Vietnamese law, laws such as those of the US, ASEAN and other regions and international conventions governing copyright issues) relating to literary property among its members and amongst the public at large, and to make the practice of copyright law a daily concern within the publishing industry. The Fund operates as an NGO under the direction of the Secretary General of the Việt Nam Writers' Association in accordance with the objectives and statutes of the Việt Nam Writers' Association and all the current laws of Việt Nam. It is administered by a committee of members consisting of famous writers, journalists and specialists under the chairmanship of the Secretary General of the Việt Nam Writers' Association. The CPF Committee meets every three months or more frequently as required to discuss all aspects of its programmes and activities in carrying out CPF missions. The Fund offers a variety of seminars and workshops for writers, publishers, and cultural organisations, aimed at addressing specific aspects of Việt Nam’s copyright law in a language appropriate to its target audience. CPF is also working to establish a mechanism whereby conflict between authors and publishers or other entities can be discussed, arbitrated and resolved. In this context, where appropriate, CPF can provide free legal assistance to authors whose rights have been violated. In cases where such assistance is provided, the author prevails and the amount of the final award is significant, a percentage of that award is retained by CPF for its future activities. CPF also undertakes research into other nations' copyright laws and their impact on Việt Nam and co-ordinates exchange activities in the copyright field with NGOs in the USA, ASEAN and other regions where, due to the presence of a large population of Vietnamese expatriates and the existence of a flourishing publishing industry, issues of copyright are an area of importance. Finally CPF seeks to encourage quality literature by developing relationships between writers and publishing houses based on copyright contract.