Solutions to Identify Counterfeit Goods and IP Violations

Solutions to Identify Counterfeit Goods and IP Violations from the Experience of Korea

Currently, counterfeit products and product infringing intellectual property rights happening in Vietnam are very popular and diverse in types. This situation not only affects domestic production and trade but also has a negative impact on close business partners of Vietnam, including Korea. In many cases, the infringed parties have been seeking help from IP lawyers in Vietnam for advice.

 

IP Enforcement Law Firm in Vietnam

With cultural compatibility, Korean products such as fashion, home appliances, cosmetics, and functional foods are very popular and widely consumed in Vietnam. Therefore, with the quick grasp of this trend, the products of Korean enterprises have become the subject of counterfeiting. Besides, with the development of e-commerce channels, these counterfeit products quickly reach consumers, affecting the interests of consumers in Vietnam and Korean enterprises.

Moreover, with technology, forgery is increasingly done in a very sophisticated way from the packaging, share, and the color of the counterfeit products. Therefore, without a method of comparison and inspection, it is difficult for consumers to detect the product as a fake. This causes great damage to Korean enterprises not only the market share, but also the value of reputation and intellectual property rights being violated.

Besides, the Covid-19 pandemic makes people in Vietnam more inclined to buy goods online. This is an opportunity for individuals and organizations that counterfeit products to easily reach out to consumers without being detected and punished.

In addition, although Vietnam has a mechanism to enforce intellectual property rights, these regulations have not been thoroughly applied. Therefore, many individuals and organizations making counterfeit goods and infringing intellectual property still continue to violate without being caught. Meanwhile, consumers still have to pay to use bad quality products.

With the support of Korean businesses, Vietnam authorities will continue to improve their capability in identifying counterfeit goods and goods infringing on intellectual property. Therefore, an exchange between Korean businesses and the General Department of Market Management of Vietnam is necessary in providing methods to detect counterfeit goods and intellectual property violations for Vietnam agencies to exchange support, raise awareness of intellectual property rights protection, and provide information on intellectual property rights for Korean businesses in Vietnam. It is expected that Vietnam intellectual property enforcement agencies improve their efficiency in identifying, preventing, combating and handling counterfeit and infringing goods in Vietnam to protect consumers and company in creating an encouraging investment environment in Vietnam, for Korean investors to enter Vietnam for setting up company, factory and do business in Vietnam.

You could learn more about ANT Lawyers IP Practice or contact our IP lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 730 86 529

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Successfully Register a Vietnam Trademark in the US

ANT Lawyers as an Industrial Property law firm with full IP license under Vietnam laws represented Live Forever Young Co., Ltd to submit an international application of trademark Live Forever Young trademark which designated the US according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on October 2021.

 

ANT Lawyers IP law firm in Vietnam

Through the formal examination stage, on March 2021, WIPO issued a Certificate of Registration, which certifies that the above application conformed to the formal requirements of WIPO. Subsequently, WIPO notifies the Intellectual Property Office of the U.S. and this Office could conduct the substantive examination.

During the substantive examination stage, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a Non-final Office Action on May 2021. Subsequently, ANT Lawyers assisted the Client in preparing and submitting the corresponding response letter to USPTO.

After 7 months of substantive examination, on October 2021, the Live Forever Young trademark has been successfully registered in the US and USPTO issued a Registration Certificate. Accordingly, the registration will remain in full force and effect for a term of ten years from the date of issuance and may file a renewal.

Trademark registration in the US is very important for the client as this is the first step that uncovers the considerable opportunities for entering the potential market in the US. With the help of ANT Lawyers from experts in intellectual property as well as close cooperation relationships with IP law firm in different part of the world, ANT Lawyers IP law firm has assisted Clients in achieving their goals and while maximizing their rights and exploiting legal benefits from intellectual property as well as minimizing risks in the process of registration of trademark in Vietnam and international trademark registration in US.

 

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Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights Under Vietnam’s Criminal Code

For the purpose of ensuring legitimate interest of manufacturers as well as consumers, reduction and elimination unfair commercial competition, the Vietnam government has been increasingly focusing on protection of intellectual property (IP) rights. This is expected to contribute to technical enhancement in domestic production industry, foreign investment attraction, reduction of IP infringement in Vietnam.

 

Infringements of intellectual property rights in Vietnam

Intellectual property rights always plays an important role in international trade agreements which Vietnam has been a contracting party, especially ASEAN and WTO. The WTO requires its members to impose penalties or fines, or both, to prevent acts of intellectual property infringement for commercial purposes, in accordance with the penalty applicable to the crime of corresponding severity.

In order to consolidate and protect the social order; punish crimes; raise people’s awareness of compliance with the law; prevent and fight crimes, Vietnam has legalized sanctions for infringements of intellectual property rights in Vietnam under administrative, civil and criminal measures.

The Criminal Code 1999 (amended and supplemented in 2009) regulated provisions on “Infringement of industrial property rights” (Article 171). The criminal sanctions for infringement of intellectual property right are regulated in Article 225 and Article 226 of the Criminal Code 2015.

Regarding the subject of infringement of intellectual property rights, the offenders shall be (i) person who is at the sufficient age to bear criminal responsibilities; or (ii) corporate legal entity as defined in the Civil Code.

The effective protection of intellectual property rights will be an important factor that protect the interests of consumers, manufacturers, eliminating “distortion” of competition and commerce.  In common playgrounds, Vietnam as well as other member countries must strictly comply with the regulations on IP issues to integrate into global economy.

You could learn more about ANT Lawyers IP Practice or contact our IP attorneys in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 730 86 529

 

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Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights Under Vietnam’s Criminal Code

For the purpose of ensuring legitimate interest of manufacturers as well as consumers, reduction and elimination unfair commercial competition, the Vietnam government has been increasingly focusing on protection of intellectual property (IP) rights. This is expected to contribute to technical enhancement in domestic production industry, foreign investment attraction, reduction of IP infringement in Vietnam.

 

Intellectual property rights always plays an important role in international trade agreements which Vietnam has been a contracting party, especially ASEAN and WTO. The WTO requires its members to impose penalties or fines, or both, to prevent acts of intellectual property infringement for commercial purposes, in accordance with the penalty applicable to the crime of corresponding severity.

In order to consolidate and protect the social order; punish crimes; raise people’s awareness of compliance with the law; prevent and fight crimes, Vietnam has legalized sanctions for infringements of intellectual property rights in Vietnam under administrative, civil and criminal measures.

The Criminal Code 1999 (amended and supplemented in 2009) regulated provisions on “Infringement of industrial property rights” (Article 171). The criminal sanctions for infringement of intellectual property right are regulated in Article 225 and Article 226 of the Criminal Code 2015.

Regarding the subject of infringement of intellectual property rights, the offenders shall be (i) person who is at the sufficient age to bear criminal responsibilities; or (ii) corporate legal entity as defined in the Civil Code.

The effective protection of intellectual property rights will be an important factor that protect the interests of consumers, manufacturers, eliminating “distortion” of competition and commerce.  In common playgrounds, Vietnam as well as other member countries must strictly comply with the regulations on IP issues to integrate into global economy.

To learn more about ANT Lawyers IP Practice or contact our IP attorneys lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 730 86 529

 

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