KENFOX IP & Law Office > Notable Articles (Page 2)

Copyright Law in Vietnam: A Comprehensive Overview

Vietnam does not have a separate copyright law. Vietnam’s legal framework for copyright protection is integrated within its broader Law on Intellectual Property (IP Law), first enacted in 2005. Rather than having a standalone copyright law, this comprehensive legislation governs various forms of IP, including patents, trademarks, industrial designs and copyrights. The IP Law has been amended 03 times to adapt to Vietnam’s evolving economic landscape and to align with international IP standards....

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Patent Law in Vietnam: A Comprehensive Overview

Vietnam does not have a separate patent law. Vietnam’s legal framework for patent protection is integrated within its broader Law on Intellectual Property (IP Law), first enacted in 2005. Rather than having a standalone patent law, this comprehensive legislation governs various forms of IP, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and industrial designs. The IP Law has been amended 03 times to adapt to Vietnam’s evolving economic landscape and to align with international IP standards....

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Industrial Design Law in Vietnam: A Comprehensive Overview

Vietnam does not have a separate industrial design law. Vietnam’s legal framework for industrial design protection is integrated within its broader Law on Intellectual Property (IP Law), first enacted in 2005. Rather than having a standalone industrial design law, this comprehensive legislation governs various forms of IP, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and industrial designs. The IP Law has been amended 03 times to adapt to Vietnam’s evolving economic landscape and to align with international IP standards....

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Trademark Law in Vietnam: A Comprehensive Overview

Unlike many jurisdictions, Vietnam doesn't have a standalone trademark law. Instead, the country's legal framework for trademarks is seamlessly integrated into its broader Intellectual Property Law (IP Law). This comprehensive law was first enacted in 2005 and has since undergone significant amendments in 2009, 2019, and 2022 to align with the evolving international IP landscape. While a distinct "Trademark Law" is absent, all aspects concerning trademarks are meticulously regulated within the overarching IP Law....

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Manufacturing for Export Only: Does it Constitute Trademark Infringement? – Rulings from China and Practices in Vietnam

The production of goods bearing trademarks that are identical or confusingly similar to those of others for export is a controversial issue in the field of intellectual property (IP). In both China and Vietnam, the production of goods bearing foreign trademarks for export under the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) model has become prevalent in recent years. Foreign commissioning parties enter into processing contracts with domestic manufacturers to produce goods bearing their trademarks for export. However, in many cases, the trademarks affixed to the goods for export are identical or confusingly similar to a registered trademark in the domestic market. Whether...

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Handling Trademark Infringement in Vietnam: 8 Key Considerations

Even with a registered trademark and a favorable opinion from the Vietnam Intellectual Property Research Institute (VIPRI), winning a trademark infringement case is not guaranteed. IP disputes in Vietnam are becoming increasingly sophisticated and unpredictable, meaning there's always a risk of failure, even when the odds seem in your favor. To navigate this complexity, it's essential to develop a comprehensive IP protection and enforcement strategy that considers all potential risks. This approach helps minimize legal exposure and improves your chances of successfully combating IP infringement....

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Trademark Disputes with Trade Names: How to Resolve in Cambodia?

Trademark owners have reason to be concerned as they discover an increasing number of their trademarks being infringed upon in increasingly sophisticated ways in Cambodia. Many Chinese businesses, despite having registered trademarks, are facing the situation where their trademarks are being used as trade names by companies in Cambodia. When similar names appear in the market, registered trademarks gradually lose their distinctiveness, leading trademark owners to lose market share and potentially collapse after investing significant financial, human, creative, and time resources in marketing efforts....

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The Stolichnaya Vodka Lawsuit in Vietnam: What Intellectual Property Issues Should Be Considered?

The Russian vodka brand, long considered a symbol of culture, quality, and luxury, is facing serious legal challenges globally, including in Vietnam. The decades-long dispute over intellectual property (IP) rights for famous vodka brands such as Stolichnaya has exposed pressing issues in brand protection in Vietnam, especially in the context of international economic integration. The recent lawsuit in the Hanoi People's Court between Spirits International B.V. (SPI) and FKP Sojuzplodoimport (FKP) has once again ignited heated debate over intellectual property rights, raising important questions about fundamental legal principles such as: the criteria for determining ownership of a trademark, the role of...

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From China to Vietnam: Refurbished Goods – 4 Key Points and 4 Typical Cases Businesses Need to Know

Opening the market for refurbished goods from other member countries is Vietnam's commitment when participating in new-generation free trade agreements with high standards and covering many areas such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union (EVFTA), or the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (UKVFTA)....

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From China to Vietnam: Can Unfair Competition Law Be Used to Address Trademark Squatting?

In China and Vietnam, the legal landscape for trademark protection is undergoing significant transformations. For years, rights holders have struggled to combat the widespread practice of trademark squatting, where bad-faith actors exploit the "first-to-file" principle to register and hoard trademarks, unfairly profiting from the efforts of legitimate owners. However, recent court rulings, such as Bayer v. Li Qing and Emerson v. Hemeiquan, have begun to shift the landscape, interpreting unfair competition laws more broadly. These decisions have created new legal tools that empower brand owners to protect their IP rights. These changes in the legal system are reshaping how businesses...

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