KENFOX IP & Law Office > Notable Articles

The Secret Behind the Assessment Conclusion of VIPRI: 5 Questions That Cannot Be Ignored

Download While not legally binding, the assessment conclusions from the Vietnam Intellectual Property Research Institute (VIPRI) can profoundly influence the initial perspectives of Vietnamese enforcement authorities, particularly in regions where officers might not have extensive experience with intellectual property rights (IPR). KENFOX IP & Law Office offers in-depth answers to five crucial questions about VIPRI's assessment conclusions. This guidance aims to deepen IPR holders' understanding and assist them in developing successful strategies to effectively protect and enforce their rights amidst the increasingly complex landscape of IPR infringement in Vietnam. 1. Obtaining a favorable VIPRI’s Assessment Conclusion: What strategic approach? IPR holders or the...

Continue reading

Do You Really Understand The VIPRI Opinion On Enforcing IP Rights In Vietnam?

Download 1. Assessment of Industrial Property in Vietnam: What is it? Intellectual property assessment is a specialized service that provides expert opinions on issues related to intellectual property rights (IP), including the valuation of IP assets and the estimation of damages resulting from IPR violations. In Vietnam, intellectual property assessment is typically carried out at the request of one or both parties to an IPR dispute or at the discretion of the Vietnamese IPR enforcement agencies in order to resolve alleged IPR infringements. The professional responsible for this assessment is called an assessor or assessment expert. Assessors are required to have qualifications...

Continue reading

Understanding IP Law in Vietnam: Why Selling Genuine Products Might Still Be Infringement?

1. RULE ONE is a corporation with over 10 years of experience in the field of fitness and sports supplements. Established in 2014 by the Costello family, who also founded the renowned Optimum Nutrition (ON) brand, known worldwide for the legendary Whey Gold Standard. After selling the ON brand to Glanbia five years ago, the Costello brothers developed a new brand. They continued to leverage the technology from their previous brand while incorporating modern advancements. Among their most prominent products are R1 Protein, R1 Gain, R1 BCAA, R1 Casein, R1 Energy+, and R1 Pre Amino. Rule 1 Protein, a premium...

Continue reading

Trademark Oppositions In Vietnam: What Grounds And How To Effectively Apply?

Download Intellectual property rights (IPR) holders never want their competitors to register a mark closely resembling their own marks. This is to mitigate legal risks, particularly in preventing confusion among consumers and deterring unauthorized trademark use or free riding on their goodwill associated with their mark. To mitigate these risks and safeguard the value of their brands and intellectual property in Vietnam, intellectual property rights holders must clearly understand the legal grounds for exercising the right to ”oppose” a trademark or to provide 'third-party observation”, as outlined in Articles 112 and 112a of the amended 2022 IP Law. What legal grounds justify...

Continue reading

Investing in Vietnam: What Should Chinese Investors Consider?

The investment landscape of China in Vietnam is currently experiencing many positive changes. As of April 2023, investment from China has seen a nearly 70% increase compared to the previous year. Chinese investment is diversifying across various provinces and cities in Vietnam, reaching from the North to the South, and extending from strategically important provinces to major industrial zones. This diversification is enhancing local economic development. Such expansive investment efforts position China as a leading source of foreign investment in Vietnam, even surpassing traditional investors like Korea, Japan, and Singapore. Furthermore, Chinese investment in Vietnam mirrors the broader trend of...

Continue reading

Protection of Plant Breeder’s rights in Laos: What You Need To Know

Download In Laos, farming (agriculture) is very important for both the people's way of life and the country's economy. Because of this, protecting the rights of people who create new types of plants (i.e., plant breeder's rights) is becoming a very important issue. The Law on Intellectual Property (Amended) No. 38/NA, which came into force on June 8, 2018, marks a significant step forward in recognizing and safeguarding the intellectual efforts of those who bring new plant varieties to life. But what does this mean for the breeders, the agricultural sector, and the biodiversity of Laos? KENFOX IP & Law Office...

Continue reading

Should you abandon a trademark application temporarily refused registration in Vietnam?

Not a few trademark applications in Vietnam, whether directly submitted to the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IP VIETNAM) or designated through the Madrid system, are temporarily refused for registration. The situation will be more challenging and daunting in case such a temporarily refused trademark has been commercialized in Vietnam for several years. The temporary refusal of their trademark application raises a critical and complex question: whether to continue the pursuit of registration or to consider abandoning the application?...

Continue reading

Proving Originality Of An Applied-Art Work Or A Logo: Why Is It Challenging and What To Do?

When opposing or requesting the invalidation of a third party's trademark registration on the grounds that the trademark is a copy or contains a copy of a work protected by rights under Article 73.7 of the Intellectual Property Law (IP Law), or requesting administrative handling copyright infringement, you may face a counter-statement that your logo lacks “originality” - one critical requirement to enable your logo to qualify copyright protection. Such claims can include arguments that your logo is composed of common, generic, or widely used elements that do not meet the threshold of originality – it lacks distinctiveness, meaning it...

Continue reading

10 Limitations and Exceptions of Economic Rights under Myanmar’s Copyright Law You Need To Know

Download The limitations and exceptions to the economic rights of copyright holders in Myanmar are provided under Articles 24 through 33 of Myanmar’s Copyright Law. These provisions ensure a balanced approach, allowing for certain uses of copyrighted works without the authorization of the right holder under specific circumstances, aiming to foster education, cultural exchange, and access to information while still protecting the interests of copyright owners. KENFOX provides below such limitations and exceptions to the economic rights so that copyright holders could take proper actions. 1. Personal use and fair use: Individuals are allowed under Article 24 to reproduce parts of published...

Continue reading

Myanmar’s Copyright Law 2019 – What is it provided for?

Download  Myanmar's Copyright Law, enacted as The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Law No. 15, 2019, comprises 24 chapters, each addressing various aspects of copyright and related rights protection, administration, enforcement, and penalties. KENFOX would like to provide below some basic details of the law with a hope that they will help IPR holders understand about the key provisions and mechanisms thereof and how to effectively manage, protect, and enforce their copyright and related rights in Myanmar. Chapter I - Title, enforcement, and definitions (including 02 articles, Articles 1-2) Establishes the law's title, its effective date, and provides definitions for terms (e.g., "author," "copyright," "intellectual property...

Continue reading