04 February

Sticky

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

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

0 Comments

Sticky

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

0 Comments

Sticky

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

0 Comments

Sticky

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

0 Comments

Sticky

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

0 Comments

Sticky

“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...

04 November

0 Comments

Sticky

“TIGER” vs. “Two Red Tigers” in Laos: How KENFOX Prevented Trademark Infringement Risks for HEINEKEN?

Posted by KENFOX IP

in Trademark

When a brand gains immense recognition and influence, it often becomes a target for imitators. As “TIGER” beer has become a global icon, it has faced increasingly complex challenges, especially, commercial paraticism. Recently, HEINEKEN is a global and internationally recognized leader in the beverage production and supply business, including but not limited to beer detected a third party in Vietnam filed an International Registration under the Madrid System for the mark “TWO RED TIGERS” designating various countries, including Laos....

09 June

0 Comments

Sticky

Registering Composite Marks in Vietnam: What Legal Risks to Consider Under the 2022 IP Law?

Posted by KENFOX IP

in Notable Articles, Trademark

“One application – a “composite” trademark – cost-effective”. This is a common belief among many trademark owners when opting to file a trademark that combines both figurative elements (logo) and word elements (word mark). Instead of filing two separate applications – one for the logo and one for the word mark – they consolidate both into a single trademark specimen to reduce filing, examination, publication, and renewal costs....

21 May

0 Comments

Sticky

Registering Trademarks in Black and White or in Color: What Is the Optimal Protection Strategy in Vietnam?

Posted by KENFOX IP

in IP Practice, Vietnam

[vc_row triangle_shape="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text]Download Every element that constitutes a brand - even the smallest detail - can serve as either a competitive advantage or a strategic vulnerability in the pursuit of market share and consumer trust. A trademark, as a core commercial identifier, is not merely a visual symbol but also embodies the reputation, value, and identity of the business. Accordingly, the decision to register a trademark in black and white or in its color version should not be treated as a mere formality. Rather, it must be approached as a strategic legal determination with direct implications for the scope of intellectual property...

20 May

0 Comments

Sticky

Copyright Registration for Product Packaging Design in Vietnam: Can Infringement Be Addressed?

Posted by KENFOX IP

in Copyright, IP Practice, Notable Articles

A product’s packaging design may be registered as a work of applied art to obtain copyright protection. The proprietor, a Shenzhen-based technology company, proceeded to commercialize its product bearing the aforementioned packaging design following the issuance of a copyright registration certificate. In such circumstances, the packaging design effectively functions as an indicator (i.e., a trademark), enabling the public and consumers to distinguish the origin of the company's oral care products from those of other entities. This raises the question of whether a packaging design registered under copyright law may also be deemed to enjoy intellectual property protection equivalent to that...