PARODY: What is funny to one, may not be funny to all!

By Linh Nguyen “Parody” according to Cambridge dictionary is “writing, music, art, speech, etc. that intentionally copies the style of someone famous or copies a particular situation, making the features or qualities of the original more noticeable in a way that is humorous”. Many of us enjoy a parody because it brings humor, fun and […]

Battle Of The Bunnies

By P. Kandiah It’s the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese lunar calendar, and the battle of the rabbits has begun!

Can An Expired Trademark Be Forgotten?

By Ngan Pham Much like human life, trademarks also have different fates or destinies from birth to maturity. Some may proceed smoothly to being granted within the statutory time without any challenges from competent authorities, and some may face obstacles due to objections or refusals on various grounds. Even after grant, some may last forever […]

The Phở Thìn Trademark Battle in Vietnam: Lessons for Businesses

By Linh Nguyen PHỞ THÌN is an extremely familiar brand with Hanoian food lovers, especially those who love Phở – a traditional Vietnamese dish. Two well-known places where customers can enjoy the top-class PHỞ THÌN are on two different streets in Hanoi – Dinh Tien Hoang street and Lo Duc street. Despite the two restaurants […]

On The Path To The Hague Agreement

By Wipaphat S. Trossel In compliance with established commitments in the ASEAN IPR Action Plan 2016-2025, Thailand is on its way to joining the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs. Prior to entering the Agreement, the Department of Intellectual Property of Thailand (DIP) had organised public hearings of the Draft Amendments to […]

Destination Branding: How IP Can Boost Tourism

By Wipaphat S. Trossel For many countries, tourism is a catalyst for social development. At the start of 2020, the economic growth of these countries was hard-hit by travel restrictions affecting not only the tourism industry, but also all commercial activities connected to it. As a perennial tourist favourite, Thailand was naturally affected as well. […]

[Vietnam Update] Landscape of Industrial Property Registrations in 2021

By Linh Nguyen 2022 is coming to an end, with the year bringing many developments in Vietnam. As Vietnam recovers from a challenging 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19, let’s take a look at how the country’s Intellectual Property (IP) landscape was affected in 2021. Key Takeaways Patent Growth – Patent filings rose by […]

Taking The Lid Off Biolife, Spuntino and Ciotolla

By Jamieson McKinnon Dart Industries Inc & Anor v CMN International Sdn Bhd & Ors – Civil Suit No.: WA-22IP-16-04/2017 consolidated with WA-22IP-17-04/2017 Key Takeaways Design Infringement Confirmed – The Malaysian High Court found that CMN International and its affiliates infringed the 1st Plaintiff’s registered industrial designs. Imitation Was Obvious – Side-by-side comparison revealed close […]

Trademark Opposition: Daimler AG v Vivo Case

By Lauren Bennardo Knowing when to raise an opposition or if your trademark is considered similar to another mark can be a difficult task. Owners are encouraged to assess the total impression of the mark, particularly from a consumer perspective. This was demonstrated in the recent case of Daimler AG v Vivo Mobile Communication Co […]

Utility Solutions in Vietnam: An Alternative Route to Patent Protection

By Linh Nguyen Numerous resources – time, money and effort – are invested when creating an invention, in the hopes of getting a successful patent and thereafter using it as springboard for further innovation and growth. But when your patent application is rejected because the invention is found to lack the inventive step criteria upon […]