25 February

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Nearly 1,000 U.S. Patent Applications Terminated – A Cross-Border Compliance Crisis and the Lessons to Be Learned

The USPTO has terminated the proceedings of nearly 1,000 patent applications after discovering serious irregularities in filings handled through a cross-border “intermediary” model. The matter was triggered when a U.S. agency was found to have submitted documents using unauthorized electronic signatures of registered practitioners and/or applicants, prompting the USPTO to issue Show-Cause Orders across the portfolio. The core of this legal scandal lay in fundamental breaches of integrity: the U.S. attorney acted merely as a “signatory of convenience”, had no direct engagement with the ultimate client, and failed to verify the authenticity of the submitted filings. As a consequence, nearly 1,000 patent...

24 February

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MEGA MGC COFFEE: A “Reversal” Strategy and Lessons in Trademark Rights Establishment in Vietnam

Posted by KENFOX IP

in IP Practice, Notable Articles, Trademark in Vietnam, Vietnam

In Vietnam's trademark registration practice, numerous international brand owners have been forced to withdraw from the market upon facing a critical deadlock: their applications were refused due to conflicts with prior-filed marks. When the likelihood of reversing such a refusal is deemed “very low”, the boundary between successfully introducing a multi-million dollar brand into a new market and leaving empty-handed often hinges solely on a timely strategic decision. The case of MEGA MGC COFFEE - South Korea’s second-largest coffee chain - in Vietnam serves as a compelling illustration of such a turning point. In what initially appeared to be a foregone...

23 February

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Trademark Application & Registration Process: A Comprehensive Guide For Foreign Enterprises in Vietnam

Posted by KENFOX IP

in Notable Articles, Viet Nam

Entering the Vietnamese market requires securing your trademarks early. Vietnam is a first-to-file jurisdiction - priority generally goes to whoever files first, not whoever used first. This means foreign businesses should register their trademark in Vietnam as soon as possible to prevent local “squatting”. Unregistered signs - well-known marks, trade names, and commercial indications protected against unfair competition - are statutorily protectable in Vietnam. However, establishing such rights through evidence of actual use and reputation is demanding and often uncertain. Accordingly, unregistered brands face heightened misuse risk, so registration remains the most reliable path to protection and enforcement. Registering your...

09 February

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KENFOX honored as “2025 Outstanding International IP Service Team” by China IP Today

Posted by KENFOX IP

in Events, News

HANOI/BEIJING – January 24, 2026 – KENFOX IP & Law Office is proud to announce that it has been officially recognized as one of the “2025 Outstanding International IP Service Teams” by China IP Today. The honor was conferred during the prestigious 2026 Enterprise IP Strategy Forum & Annual Conference of In-house IP Managers held at the Beijing International Hotel. KENFOX was listed among the select Asia recipients of this 2025 recognition, standing out as one of the few Southeast Asian firms to be honored by Chinese industry leaders for cross-border excellence....

04 February

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Over 12,000 TECNO Mobile Phones Illegally Assembled in Lang Son: Criminal Case Initiated

Posted by KENFOX IP

in News, Notable Articles

On 24 April 2025, the Lang Son Provincial Police (Economic Police Division), in coordination with the Lang Son Provincial Market Surveillance Department, conducted an unannounced inspection of an illegal mobile-phone assembly site located at a workshop in Khon Pat Hamlet, Dong Kinh Ward, Lang Son City, Lang Son Province. Background of the TECNO Brand TECNO is one of the mobile-phone brands under Transsion Holdings, a smartphone manufacturer headquartered in Shenzhen, China. According to Canalys (as cited by VnExpress), in 2024 Transsion shipped approximately 106.7 million smartphones (representing 9% market share), ranking fourth globally behind Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi; and, in Africa, Transsion’s...

23 January

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Guide on Trademark Matters in Vietnam

Posted by KENFOX IP

in IP Practice, Our Practice, Trademark in Vietnam, Vietnam

The relevant trademark authority in Vietnam is the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IP VIETNAM), previously known as the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP). ...

09 January

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Patent Application Process in Vietnam: A Comprehensive Guide For Chinese Enterprises

Posted by KENFOX IP

in Patent, Patent/Utility Solutions, Viet Nam, Vietnam

Vietnam’s patent system provides multiple avenues to protect technical innovations, ranging from invention patents and utility solutions to industrial designs. This guide, prepared by KENFOX IP & Law Office, a qualified IP Firm in Vietnam, outlines the entire patent application process in Vietnam, including available application routes, types of protection, eligibility criteria, step-by-step procedures, examination and appeal processes, official fees, and strategic considerations. It is tailored for foreign businesses entering Vietnam and focuses on Vietnam’s current laws and practices....

20 November

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KENFOX Wins “Vietnam – Trademark Prosecution” at Asia IP Awards during APAA Conference 2025

Posted by KENFOX IP

in News

APAA 2025 has come to a close - what an effective and memorable conference! Please allow us to share with you that, our firm, KENFOX IP & Law Office, has been honored with the prestigious “Vietnam – Trademark Prosecution” award at the Asia IP Awards held in Malaysia. This recognition highlights our continued dedication to excellence in intellectual property protection and advocacy across the region....

06 November

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KENFOX Presents On Strategic Protection Of Foreign Brands Against Sophisticated Infringement At The MOIP–KOIPA Seminar

Posted by KENFOX IP

in Notable Articles

As intellectual property rights increasingly serve as a decisive “competitive weapon” in Vietnam, IP disputes and infringement tactics have evolved accordingly – becoming more sophisticated, unpredictable, and, in some instances, stretching beyond traditional legal boundaries. This is no longer merely a legal contest; it is a battle to protect trust, preserve brand identity, and protect the commercial interests of foreign investors operating in Vietnam. At a specialized seminar co-hosted by Agency for Domestic Market Surveillance and Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Intellectual Property of Korea (MOIP) and the Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency (KOIPA), attended by more than 50...

05 November

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“L@TTITUDE” vs. “LATTITUDE”: How KENFOX Reversed a Refusal & Secured Protection in Vietnam?

Posted by KENFOX IP

in Notable Articles, Trademark

For many international brand owners, receiving a provisional refusal from the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IP Vietnam) can feel like a dead end. Vietnam is one of ASEAN’s fastest-growing markets – but also one of its most rigorous trademark examination systems, where non-traditional marks face heightened examination, prior cited marks may block registration even with market differences, examiner discretion remains conservative compared to other Madrid members, consent letters are not automatically accepted, stylized, digital-era brand identities (e.g., symbols such as “@”) are often misunderstood under traditional distinctiveness rules A refusal in Vietnam is not merely an administrative hurdle – it...