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With the increase in registered capital requirements, tax rise and the tightening of labor and environmental laws in China, many factories are now making the move to Vietnam. The growth of manufacturing companies in Vietnam, in turn, results in a higher need for intellectual property (IP) protection there.The Vietnamese Government is aware of this change in the business landscape and has stepped up its efforts in matters relating to IP. When Dr. Francis Gurry, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) visited the President of Vietnam, President Nguyen Minh Triet at the Presidential Palace on 20 January 2010, the President confirmed Vietnam’s commitment to IP protection and thanked Dr. Gurry for WIPO’sassistance in the establishment and development of Vietnam’s IP system over past years. Dr. Gurry also congratulated Vietnam on achievements gained over past years. He said “Vietnamis integrating into the world market, so intellectual property should play a very important role in the economic, scientific and technological development of the country.“
Unofficial statistics of the applications filed in 2008 and 2009 at the National Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (NOIP), however, do not seem to reflect that most businesses are transferring their business to Vietnam.
APPLICATION NUMBERS RECEIVED AND EXAMINED BY NOIP BETWEEN 2008 AND 2009
|
Type of Application |
Received | Examined | |||||
| 2008 | 2009 | Compared | 2008 | 2009 | Compared | ||
| 1. | Invention/Utility | 3.484 | 3.143 | Decreased 9% | 950 | 1145 | Increased 21% |
| 2. | Industrial Design |
1.753 | 1.899 | Increased 8% | 1.741 | 1.455 | Decreased 16% |
| 3. | Nationallly filed trademark |
27.724 | 28.677 | Increased 3% | 27.454 | 27.502 | Increased 0.2% |
| 4. | Internationally filed trademark |
7.386 | 6.324 | Decreased 14% | 4.368 | 5.041 | Increased 15% |
| 5. | Geographical Indications |
8 | 6 | – | 2 | 2 | – |
| 6. | Semiconductor Integrated Circuit |
1 | 3 | – | – | – | – |
| 7. | International registration applications originating from Vietnam |
78 | 66 | Decreased 15% | – | – | – |
| Total | 40.434 | 40.118 | Decreased 1% | 34.515 | 35.145 | Increased 2% | |
This is likely due to the economic crisis faced by most countries which in turn has tightened the budgets of IP owners. Nevertheless, the above statistics reveal that local businesses in Vietnam are becoming more aware of the importance of IP protection as the nationally filed trademarks have increased by 3%.
As many of our local clients’ businesses are also present in Vietnam, we at KASS International have in-depth experience in IP matters in Vietnam. Do contact us if you have any queries related to your or your client’s IP protection in the fast-developing Vietnam.