IP rights gain growing traction in Vietnam

Deputy Director of the Ha Tinh Department of Science and Technology, Phan Trong Binh, said the province has been developing IP for 19 local specialties and key products through collective marks such as Vu Quang oranges, Vu Quang honey, and Hong Loc tea; certification marks like Cu-do Ha Tinh, Ky Ninh fish sauce, Thach Kim squid; and geographical indications including Huong Son deer antler, Phuc Trach pomelo, and more.

“After the local brands are developed, their product value rises 10-15 percent and is kept stable over the years with output markets expanded, and the product’s reputation and prestige gradually affirmed,” Binh said.

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat (3rd from left) visits a stand displaying IP registered products in Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province

Nguyen Van Phuong, Chair of Thua Thien Hue Provincial People’s Committee, said the protection of IP rights creates a healthy competitive environment. So far, the province has 2,041 applications for trademark registration and has been granted 1,196 certificates. Of these, 82 exclusive protection titles were granted out of 107 industrial design registration applications and 18 exclusive patent rights were granted out of 80 applications for patents and utility solutions.

Under the province’s 2021-2025 IP development program, Thua Thien Hue Province has supported more than 100 local businesses by protecting product trademarks, and providing utility solutions as well as traceability of products and goods.

Tran Le Hong, Deputy Director of the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam (NOIP) under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), said his office has handled 113,906 applications of all kinds and granted 42,279 industrial property protection titles (up 8.3 percent compared to 2021). It also dealt with 1,572 complaints about protection titles.

Tuy Loan rice paper has been granted industrial property protection title

Hong also reported that in 2022, nearly 4,000 individuals and organizations were advised and guided by the Departments of Science and Technology on industrial property rights, including 3,505 trademarks, 135 industrial designs, 100 inventions and hundreds of other objects.

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat noted that the Law on Intellectual Property had been amended and supplemented. The immediate task is to quickly finalize guiding legal documents so that the law can soon come into effect, Dat said.

The MoST is summarizing the 10 year-implementation of Resolution 20-NQ/TW of the Party Central Committee on science and technology development in the context of a socialist-oriented market economy and international integration, and at the same time amending and supplementing the 2013 Law on Science and Technology.