Vietnam IP Office Issues Alert on COVID-19

On 25 March 2020, Vietnam’s IP Office (formerly the IP Vietnam) released Announcement No. 5060/TB-SHTT (Notification 5060) on strengthening measures to prevent and combat COVID-19.

Announcement 5060 offers several measures to protect IP Office officers in the COVID-19 situation, especially with regard to arranging collection of fees and receiving visitors such as interviews and working remotely from home.

Announcement 5060 contains some important points which warrant the attention of rights holders and practitioners, in particular:

(i) On the backdrop of COVID-19, the Legal and Policy Division has been charged with researching and recommending measures for grace periods for applicants.

(ii) The IT Center has been assigned to work with the Registration Division and various other Divisions of the Vietnam’s IP Office to recommend solutions to increase online and postal filings.

While no specific grace periods are yet in effect due to the COVID-19 situation, it appears from Announcement 5060 that this is being contemplated. Online filing in Vietnam is open now.

As policies grow we will be providing more updates.